Saturday night fever

THE IRISH Jockeys Association have fired the first salvo in what is emerging as a battle with the Irish Horseracing Authority over Saturday evening meetings.

A letter, outlining their concerns, has been sent to the IHA by the association, whose secretary Andrew Coonan said yesterday. "We do not want Saturday evening racing and every jockey in the association is committed to voicing their dissatisfaction on it."

Including the Killarney fixture on April 10th, which has a 4 p.m. start, four meetings are proposed to be held on Saturday evenings this year. Leopardstown, Naas and Gowran host the others.

Michael Kinane said yesterday. "It's something we feel strongly about. When Sunday racing came in we didn't complain and now it's regular. With late Saturday racing, too, jockeys will have no weekend time to relax and spend with their families."

The jockeys association are awaiting a response from the IHA. Kinane yesterday described talk of a possible jockeys' boycoll of Saturday evening meetings if the IHA response is unsatisfactory as "premature" but added. "It's a touchy subject but we're taking a strong stance. Jockeys feel very strongly that this whole. issue is being pushed down our necks. There has to be dialogue."

Andrew Coonan said he hoped the IHA would allay the jockeys' fears. "Our difficulty is that when Sunday racing was, introduced in ones and twos it quickly became more regular and now it's not questioned. Others working in racing can say they can't work everyday of the week and substitute staff can be brought in. Jockeys are not able to do that.

"There's only one Mick Kinane, one Charlie Swan. They have to go when required."

Coonan added. "We're most keen that Irish racing develops and does well and we want to be part of it but we don't see Saturday evening racing doing that. Statistics don't show it to be a big success."

IHA Chief Executive Noel Ryan said yesterday that the IHA had no plans to introduce Saturday evening racing on a regular basis.

"We've been at pains to say that it doesn't have huge potential and a lot of fixtures don't lend themselves to evening racing because of sponsorship or television," Ryan said.

He added. "We've set ourselves ambitious targets under our five year plan where we are trying to make Irish racing more competitive, viable and financially secure. That's in everyones interests, including the jockeys."