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I earned £12,000 year in Britain but can make that in one day with my new job in the US… the money at home is a joke

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A JOCKEY who made just £12,000 a year has ditched Britain for America, after her dad labelled the cash in this country ‘a joke’.

Brave Grace McEntee, 22, booked a one-way ticket to Kentucky with jockey boyfriend Tyler Heard for a ‘better way of life’.

Grace McEntee and boyfriend Tyler Heard have ditched the poor pay in Britain for a better life in America

And it turns out trainer dad Phil could not be more proud of her – as he blasted the dire level of prize money on offer in the UK.

In an interview with Thoroughbred Daily News, Grace said she earned trainers and owners a very healthy £153,958 from her rides in 2022.

But her cut was just eight per cent of that, meaning she took home a paltry £12,316.

Any sponsorship or riding fees could come on top, but still wouldn’t amount to a great deal.

No wonder dad Phil took his daughter’s defection as the perfect time to blast the sorry state of finances in Britain.

He told the Racing Post: “It’s embarrassing when you think Grace has had 73 winners here and her agent worked out her prize-money percentage and said you can earn that at one meeting in America.

“The prize money is an absolute disgrace in this country. It’s just a joke.”

Grace had never even been to the States on a holiday let alone racing, but packed up her bags and left just a few days ago.

Before she did explained to Sky Sports Racing why she had decided to leave Blighty behind.

She said: “My agent out there is Jose Santos Jr. I told him how many winners I had had here and how much prize money I had earned and he couldn’t believe it.

“He said I could earn that on one card out there!

“I’ve got to make the most of it. I’ve got family and support there so I’m going to give it a good try.”

For comparison, Grace’s last winner in England came on Praise Of Shadows for her old man at Southwell on December 29.

Victory was worth £3,726 – while the total purse for Grace’s first race at Turfway was £105,000.

Dad Phil’s earnings from horses in 2022 totalled £205,706 – while uncle Paul, who she will ride for, made £521,527 from 159 fewer starts in the same year.

Grace’s words echo those of Jamie Gormley, who recently said he’s quitting racing after making just £30 for ten hours’ work.

Even top level riders like Silvestre De Sousa have sacked off Britain for abroad.

He averaged earnings of £2,000 per ride in the UK but now in Hong Kong can pocket £25,000 a go.

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