KINGSTON, Jamaica - Jamaica Jockeys’ Guild President Phillip Parchment says his members support trainers and owners in their dispute with Supreme Ventures and Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL) regarding purse money.
At a meeting held at Caymanas Park on Tuesday, stakeholders in the local horse racing industry rejected a $27-million purse increase offer made by SVREL.
“Well, I am here to back the trainers and the owners 100 per cent. I am also coming under pressure from my members for an increase as well and so we are anticipating this increase,” Parchment stated.
“Jockeys’ losing rides are paid from the owner’s purse. The owners pay the jockeys’ losing rides and so with this raise it could make the owners more comfortable and can give us a raise as well,” Parchment said.
He made the observation that a raise for owners and trainers may also be advantageous for jockeys, who are in need of a raise as well after riding for pitiful sums of $2,500 to $3,000 on losing rides for some time.
Parchment revealed that jockeys who placed second through sixth in a race got an additional $2,500 from the owners in addition to their portion of the prize money, while jockeys who placed seventh and down received $3,000 from the race’s owners.
“Jockeys are riding for $2,500 and $3,000 per ride for a while now and we are more than deserving of a raise. So with this increase, the jockeys are also getting an increase as well.
“The purse will increase and so the jockey’s share will increase and also for losing rides and so everybody will be better off, Parchment said.
