Ireland Launches Industry Assistance Program

Horse Racing Ireland July 26 launched an industry assistance program for the Irish Thoroughbred industry. 

The program is designed to improve the well-being of the 14,500 staff working in the industry. It will provide round-the-clock support through a range of confidential services, including a 24/7 telephone support line and an online resource center with a live help option for many issues, such as legal and financial advice, health advice, grief counseling, parenting advice, promotion of mindfulness techniques, healthy eating advice, and crisis management.

The program is funded through HRI's Industry Education and Training Department and is available to all Thoroughbred industry employees, including stud staff, stable staff, breeders, trainers, jockeys, racecourse staff, and employees from industry bodies.

Jockey Davy Russell, Turf Club chief medical officer Dr. Adrian McGoldrick, and Joe Osborne, who is managing director of Godolphin Ireland, are advocates of the "Industry Assistance Programme."

"Working in the racing industry is all about highs and lows and it can be very hard to deal with the lows," Russell said. "The helpline will be an invaluable support for those going through a tough time, but it will also be great to have access to advice on general issues such as healthy eating and financial matters."

A recent online survey commissioned by the McGoldrick showed that 32.4% of amateur riders and 57.1% of professional riders displayed symptoms of depression.

"In this context, the launch today of the Industry Assistance Programme is not just timely but a major step forward. The Jockeys Trust has been providing support services for many years, but HRI are to be applauded for taking this care to a new level. I look forward to working with the Jockeys Trust, Irish Injured Jockeys, and HRI in the provision of psychological support services to all involved in racing into the future," McGoldrick said.

The service can be accessed via a confidential 800 helpline, a text message service, an email service, or via the www.workplaceoptions.com website that will also have a live help facility. A wallet card with login details for the website and details of all the contact methods will be issued to all industry employees in the next week, HRI said in a press release.

The service will be provided by Workplace Options which currently serves more than 100,000 Irish employees through a national service center in Dublin and a network of more than 400 counselors spread throughout the country.

Patrick Ryan, HRI's industry education and training coordinator, commented: "This service will be of great benefit to all industry employees. The implementation of this program will ensure that, no matter what your circumstances, you will have access to professional services that are both free and confidential. In addition to crisis management, assistance and advice will be provided for everyday issues such as rent queries, insurance queries, mortgage advice or travel vaccinations to name but a few."