Club puts flesh on new weight moves

The Jockey Club yesterday backed moves to raise the minimum handicap weight on the Flat by 3lb, by requesting the British Horseracing Board to increase the minimum to 7st 10lb.

The call followed a review of 1,500 overweight rides during the 1994 Flat season by the Jockey Club's chief medical adviser, Dr Michael Turner, who also discussed the matter with senior jockeys at meetings at Newmarket and Ripon. The study showed that, at 7st 7lb, 55% of rides carried overweight, 42% at 7st 8lb and 29% at 7st 9lb.

No apprentice under 8st has been enrolled in Britain's two racing schools this year.