WHEN the time comes to hang up the silks, if you are a jockey who fulfils certain riding criteria, you may be entitled to claim benefits from the Irish Jockeys Pension Trust.

The Irish Jockeys Pension Trust aims to provide retirement income for you (and your spouse/civil partner) by paying benefits to you from retirement age and to your spouse/civil partner in the event of your death.

Benefits are payable from your 50th birthday. If you should die before age 50 (or before you draw the pension), 50% of the pension which would have been paid to you is paid to your spouse/civil partner.

This payment commences on what would have been your 50th birthday and will be paid for the rest of your spouse/civil partner’s life.

Eligibility criteria

Flat jockeys

  • You have held not less than eight flat licences, and
  • You have ridden not less than 80 horses in Ireland in each of eight of the periods/years for which you held such a licence.

    • National Hunt jockeys

  • You have held not less than five National Hunt licences, and
  • You have ridden not less than fifty horses in Ireland in each of five of the periods/years for which you held such a licence.

    • Dual code jockeys

  • You have held both a flat licence and National Hunt licence at the same time for not less than eight individual periods/years, and
  • You have ridden not less than a combined total of 80 horses in Ireland under both flat and National Hunt rules in each of the periods/years in which both licences were held.

    • Jockeys who have switched code

  • You have held either flat licence or National Hunt licence at the same time for a total of not less than eight periods/years, and
  • You have met the number of rides criteria above for the periods/ years in which the licence was held under flat or National Hunt rules, and
  • You have met the criteria as set out above on a pro-rata basis in respect of flat and National Hunt licences.

    • The Licences referred to above are those issued in accordance with the Rules of Racing and the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Rules other than Apprentice licences. Furthermore, races ridden by the holder of a licence who has not yet exhausted his/her entitlement to claim an allowance shall not be counted.

    If you would like more information on the Irish Jockeys Pension Trust, or would like to apply, further information can be obtained from: Darren Murtagh at Doyle Murtagh & Co. Chartered Certified Accountants.

    Telephone: (01) 2837001 or

    email office@doylemurtagh.ie