Melbourne Cup-winner Michelle Payne key to dual licence approval
Racing NSW has changed its tune on dual licences and has approved their introduction from January 1 next year.
It will allow jockeys to also train horses, but with certain conditions.
Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne has been key to getting the changes through.
She was prevented from riding in a Sydney race in 2016 because she held a Victorian dual licence.
Racing NSW Chief Steward Marc Van Gestel tells Luke Grant they were previously concerned about integrity risks.
“Once we were satisfied that we weren’t going to have any integrity risks by introducing that local rule, the board felt… they could approve the rule.”
He says the changes will give jockeys reaching the end of their career a good pathway into another part of the industry.
“We see it as being a good way they can transition into training.
“They can be a dual licence holder for five years then that allows them then to transgress from one aspect of the industry to another.”
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