Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
VIN EDWARDS
AN INCREASE in riding fees for jockeys at Caymanas Park has been approved by the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC), even though the heads of the Owners' and Trainers' associations say they have not signed off on the agreement.
Effective March 1, jockeys represented by the Jamaica Jockeys' Guild will receive a riding fee of $1,000 - up from $400. This represents a whopping increase of 150 per cent, a move which Guild president, Robert Reid said was long in coming.
In a recent press release, the JRC announced the following amendment to the Jamaica Racing Commission Racing Rules 1977.
The Rule Amendment is as follows: Rule 151 (a) provides for an increase in the jockeys' riding fee from $400 to $1,000 per ride, except in the case where a horse finishes or is placed first, in which case the jockey shall only be entitled to 10 per cent of the purse money earned by the said horse.
b) Provides for the establishment of an exercise fee of $100 per horse exercised payable to jockeys and exercise riders.
The amendment which has been sent to the Government Printer for gazetting as the Jamaica Racing Commission Racing Rules, 1977 (Amendment) Rule (No.1) 2006 is applicable as of Wednesday, March 1 and to all nominations for such race meetings of that date and thereafter.
Vin Edwards, president of the Jamaica Racehorse Trainers' Association (JRTA), said the JRC went ahead and approved the increases without finalising discussions with the JRTA or the Jamaica Racehorse Owners' Association for which Laurence Heffes is president.
Edwards explained that both associations had ongoing meetings with representatives of the Jamaica Racing Commission but neither association had signed off on the matter. Heffes, on the other hand, said the new increase moves the owners' bill for riding fees from $3.2 million to $7.2 million annually, an increase he feels is too steep for owners.
Edwards said the industry cannot afford such high level of increases to jockeys without a significant purse increase by CTL. He has written to the JRC's general manager Ruth Smith-Sutherland outlining his concerns.
He is suggesting that the decision be put on hold to allow for discussions that will take into account the state of the industry and the source of the money to meet the demands.
