Lucrative prize for top jockey

Albany jockey Mitchell Pateman is hoping for a festive gift this week as he chases the lucrative $1000 prize on offer from Albany Racing Club as they prepare to hold two meetings inside five days.

Albany will host their Tradies Day meeting tomorrow afternoon before the popular Boxing Day fixture, which is expected to attract thousands of spectators, just four days later at Percy Spencer Racecourse.

With a busy period in terms of racing, the ARC has offered a $1000 prize for the first jockey who can successfully ride four winners across the December 22 and 26 meetings.

To be eligible jockeys must ride at least one winner at each fixture and Pateman is hopeful of replicating his form at this time last year when he claimed four victories on the Boxing Day card.

In total, 15 riders will have mounts tomorrow and will be eligible, providing they ride a winner and then return on Boxing Day.

Pateman is the defending Great Southern Rider of the Year and has a strong book of seven rides to kick-start his campaign tomorrow.

“This is a great incentive put on by the club,” he said.

“It will certainly be a challenge but hopefully I can get things off to a good start on Friday and then replicate my form from Boxing Day last year.

“At this time of year any Christmas bonus is welcome but no doubt there will be plenty of riders gunning for the same prize.”

Nominations for Albany’s Boxing Day meeting will be out today but an eight-race card is likely for the club’s biggest financial day of the season.