Godolphin this month have come under some criticism after they released to their staff that work riders must abide to a certain weight limit and if they exceeded this they would no longer be allowed to ride their horses.
However, the successful racing group on Wednesday released another statement making a complete U-turn on this policy due to the backlash it picked up and the current lack of stable staff in racing being at an all time low.
The initial notice that was given out to the stable staff on January 8th was not to be shown to the public but was released via social media and it expressed to employees that if any rider above 67kgs (10st 7lb) at the monthly weighing of staff, which had been due to start on the first day in February, would immediately cease riding and be allocated temporary duties in the yard.
However, due to this being revealed into the public interest and the criticism that Godolphin have received from this, it has led to another statement being released that has totally made a complete u-turn from that was previously proposed to the stable workers.
(Credit Racing Post)It read: "Godolphin has given the matter of rider weight considerable thought and our trainers will be using their discretion and experience on this matter in the future.”
Following the revelation of the weight limit, Godolphin had expressed: “The few riders who are not below 67kg are carefully assisted in losing weight in a sensible and healthy way.”
From looking at the time parameter that was put upon the work riders to have to lose the certain amount of weight to be under or level with the assigned weight limit, it leaves it your imagination that for some people it would not be enough time to lose such amount of weight and there would have had to be unethical precautions taking place maybe including self Vomitting.
(Credit Racing Post) Chief executive of the National Association of Racing Staff George McGrath, had said: “Any trainer, assistant trainer or head person will tell you about the rider that weighs 50kg but needs a forklift truck to get a leg up, while the rider who may weigh in excess of 67kg just floats up on the horse. Put simply, it’s not how heavy you are, it’s how heavy you ride."
In , McGrath said on Tuesday: "It's positive that Godolphin have backtracked a little. I'm not dealing with anyone at the moment who's potentially losing their job at Godolphin due to the weight they're riding out at, but Godolphin have probably been pulled to their senses a little bit regarding the original staff notice."