The hot debate in the New Zealand racing world right now centres on comments Dean Yendall, the prolific, widely respected jockey, made on minimum riding weight requirements. A clear division in the jockey racks is obvious.
This number was raised while we were battling the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, but Yendall is eager to see them drop once more now that the worst of it is over. Yendall said that the heavyweight riders can’t ride that mass either, so it’s not making any difference to them. But, he stated, it takes away the easier ride that the lightweight jockeys get. He said that heavyweight riders thank that they can make the weights a little easier but they have to waste to do it, so the rules don’t make sense. Yendall said that he’s hopeful that the weights come down again, for not just himself but other natural lightweight jockeys as well.
Yendall’s comments set off a storm of opinions, with jockeys countrywide taking part in the decision via various social media platforms. Some are firmly in the lightweight corner and others want to see the minimum weight raised permanently.
Andrew Mallyon, a rider based in Queensland, started things off when he called the article one-sided. Mallyon added that weights being raised was a great benefit for many jockeys, given the current workload, and stated that anyone who thinks differently probably has their own agenda.
Ryan Wiggins hit back, saying that the jockeys riding in the Stradbroke could easily have passed as zombies and said the raised weight is simply not safe.
| # | Site | Bonus | Bet | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Ladbrokes |  | 5/5 | 100% Match up to $250 NZD | Bet now Review |
| 2 |  | Betway | | 4.9/5 | Up to $60 NZD | Bet now Review |
| 3 |  | Palmerbet | | 4.8/5 | 100% Match | Bet now |
| 4 |  | Picklebet | | 4.7/5 | Login to see promotions | Bet now |
More About Trent Wilson
Trent Wilson is OnlineBetting.nz’s resident sports news expert. He draws on his extensive sporting knowledge, his qualification in sports management and his passion for betting to provide the latest, most up to date information on sporting events in New Zealand and across the globe. Trent is a veritable treasure trove of sports information and has been betting online for several years. He prides himself in keeping his readers informed, and in always offering an unbiased standpoint that reflects exactly what’s going on in the sports world.
View Posts - Visit WebsiteYou May Also Like:
Robbie Dunne Admits To Abusing Fellow Rider
Leading British jockey Robbie Dunne has reportedly now admitted to a breach of the rules of horse racing by way of his conduct towards fellow rider Bryony Frost. The British Horseracing Authority’s independent disciplinary panel heard on Tuesday how Dunne had bullied and harassed Frost with sexually charged language, a ….
Allan Sharrock Cleared Of Meth Charges
New Zealand thoroughbred trainer Allan Sharrock (57), one of the top trainers in the current season, has been cleared of all charges related to traces of methamphetamine discovered in the blood of two racehorses who recently tested positive for the drug at the Awapuni racecourse in Palmerston North. Reliable Miss ….
Jockey Corey Campbell Returns Negative Test
It has now been confirmed that one of the two jockeys stood down at a Southland race event’s test results have been returned as negative. According to a stipendiary steward’s report issued after the Ascot Park meet in May, several riders underwent random routine drug tests, including Corey Campbell and ….
Mitchell Kerr Incurs Life-Time Racing Ban
Prominent harness racing trainer Mitchell Kerr has been banned from the sport for life. Despite Kerr’s best and desperate attempts to hide from the sport’s Judicial Complaints Authority the fact that he had sold to an Australian businessman a non-existing horse, the damning information recently emerged has now led to ….
Canterbury Group Suspected Of Doping Horses
A group of harness racing trainers from Canterbury are being investigated following horse-doping allegations. The sport’s Racing Integrity Unit are currently investigating junior driver/trainer Jesse Alford after onlookers spotted him in the act of administering an unknown substance to two race horses at his Woodend Beach stables late last week. ….