Newmarket`s July course is among 15 tracks offering 'poor' or 'very poor' facilities for jockeys, it was claimed today.
It was branded inadequate in a survey of Britain`s 59 tracks by the Jockeys Association, whose members rated each venue for parking, entry, food, showers, sauna, comfort and security.
But Newmarket`s Rowley Mile course was rated 'very good', just behind the 'excellent' Ayr, Cheltenham, Epsom, Kempton, Newbury and Sandown.
Examples quoted of 'best practice' round the country include the comfort of Kempton, Newbury and Sandown, parking at Ayr and Haydock, and Worcester`s efforts to secure access to a sauna in the town.
Jockeys Association executive manager Michael Caulfield said: 'Jockeys accept that not all courses have the resources to provide top-class facilities but some are clearly failing to look after the needs of the athletes and we are not afraid to highlight their shortcomings.
'We feel that if similar facilities were provided for the horses there would be a torrent of complaints.
'The survey has highlighted racecourses such as Ayr, Bangor and Wincanton who are not in the `Super 12` category but clearly make an effort to cater well for jockeys.
'We are not asking for luxurious facilities, just basic standards.
'We hope the survey can be used by racecourses to improve standards. For once this does not appear to be an issue dominated by finance as some of the smaller courses are able to compete well.
'It probably costs as much to provide good food and facilities as it does bad.'
The survey also revealed that lady jockeys had several specific areas of complaint, including lack of scales and televisions - and even having to use public toilet facilities on some courses!
Responding to criticism of facilities on the July course, Newmarket clerk of the course Nick Lees said: 'It`s because it`s an old, thatched weighing-room building and we are not able to extend it - that`s our problem.'
JOCKEYS ASSOCIATION FACILITIES SURVEY:
EXCELLENT: Ayr, Cheltenham, Epsom, Kempton, Newbury, Sandown.
VERY GOOD: Ascot, Bangor, Haydock, Newmarket (Rowley), Wetherby, Wincanton, York.
GOOD: Aintree, Beverley, Exeter, Goodwood, Market Rasen, Sedgefield.
AVERAGE: Catterick, Chepstow, Chester, Doncaster, Folkestone, Fontwell, Hexham, Huntingdon, Lingfield, Newton Abbot, Nottingham, Plumpton, Pontefract, Redcar, Salisbury, Stratford, Towcester, Uttoxeter, Windsor.
BELOW AVERAGE: Bath, Brighton, Hamilton, Musselburgh, Newcastle, Warwick, Wolverhampton.
POOR: Carlisle, Hereford, Kelso, Newmarket (July), Ripon, Thirskl Worcester.
VERY POOR: Cartmel, Fakenham, Leicester, Ludlow, Perth, Southwell, Taunton, Yarmouth.
