Riders in United Kingdom to See 3.5% Mount Fee Increase

Jockeys will receive a 3.5% pay raise Jan. 1, with the Racehorse Owners Association admitting the extra cost would be "unwelcome" for owners. A flat jockey will receive £173.54 (approx. US$234) for each ride from next Thursday, with a jump jockey earning £235.90 (approx. US$318) per ride. In addition, fees given to riders when their intended mount is a non-runner will rise to £86.77 (approx. US$117) on the flat and to £117.95 (approx. US$159) over jumps. The increase, agreed on by the ROA and the Professional Jockeys Association and ratified by the British Horseracing Authority, comes after the sport's governing body raised its fees for owners and racecourses by 3.9% from the start of the new year. Louise Norman, ROA chief executive, said: "The ROA fully understands owners' frustrations around cost increases, and we recognize any fee rise is unwelcome. However, cost pressures both within and beyond racing are a reality, and these decisions are not taken lightly or in isolation. "The agreed increase is aligned with inflation and was negotiated with the PJA at a level below CPIH (Consumer Prices Index including owner occupiers' housing costs). However, the ROA continues to challenge the wider cost base faced by owners." Norman cited the reduction in contributions to the Professional Riders Insurance Scheme, which is forecast to save owners £3 million over 18 months, as an example of the organization's efforts, and said it was also "engaged in an industry-wide funding review aimed at reducing reliance on owners and creating a more sustainable, commercially driven model for British racing." The cost of an annual sole membership subscription to the ROA has also risen by 6% to £297, with Norman saying it was a result of "rising costs associated with delivering a wide range of member benefits." She added: "With a new board in place and the organization's financial position stabilized, the ROA is focused on owners' key priorities: prize-money, costs, and the ownership experience. We will be setting out clearly in early 2026 how we intend to drive progress in all three areas." The increase in riding fees for 2026 marks the third pay rise for jockeys in the past three years, with fees rising by 3.1% in 2024 and by 3% in 2025. Paul Struthers, PJA chief executive, said: "We are pleased to have agreed with the ROA an inflationary increase to the riding fee from January 1, 2026 and would like to thank the ROA board and Louise Norman."