The Otago Daily Times reported yesterday that the lack of staff able to ride work in stables across the country was heading towards crisis point, according to industry officials.
The situation was nothing new for those in the province, but several trainers confirmed the scenario here, like the rest of New Zealand, was getting worse.
Wingatui trainer Steve Tyler is among those battling to recruit another staff member to ride work in the mornings. He is one of three Otago-based trainers now advertising trackwork riding vacancies.
''I am desperately screaming out for one.
''It just frustrates you.''
The lack of available locals has meant Tyler was considering taking on an apprentice from overseas.
The process to get a competent rider is not an easy fix, given there is a complex immigration process that could get more complicated if proposed law changes come into being.
Should overseas apprentices be granted visas they face having to immediately pay an $11,500 education fee imposed by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing.
Though several trainers acknowledged there was a short supply of available track riders in the Otago region, some are not affected by it.
Terry Kennedy is one trainer who has a full roster of staff.
However, he was certainly aware of the issue.
''Everybody battles with it,'' he said.
Kennedy thinks that the lure of getting more money working in stables overseas is too great to keep skilled riders
''A lot of other places are paying that much more money, you can't hold the good ones here.''
The situation was a no-brainer. The ability to pay riders was directly related to prize money in each racing jurisdiction, he said.
''If stake money goes up ... you can pay your trackwork jockeys a bit more.''
North Taieri trainer Steven Prince is in a similar position to Kennedy.
He, too, is not facing staffing issues, but that was helped by the former jockey being able to ride work himself.
''There are a few around that are battling.''
Prince, too, put some of the blame for the shortage on the lure of working overseas for better money.
Two high-profile and recent examples from the Otago region are former Wingatui jockeys KC Walters and Toni Direen, who moved to Ballarat in September of last year to work as trackwork riders for powerhouse Victorian trainer Darren Weir.
-By Jonny Turner
