More money for jockeys
Jockeys of non-winning riders at Caymanas Park are set to get a $500 increase on their wage, following a meeting with Supreme Ventures on Thursday.
Just days after obtaining an improvement from $1,500 to $2,500 on wages for jockeys of non-winning rides on Tuesday, president of the Jockey Guild, Shane Ellis, said the owners and operators of Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL) called them to a meeting to indicate that they will be adding $500 to the increase they received on Tuesday, to make it $3,000 for a non-winning ride.
However, only those finishing seventh or lower will be eligible to receive the $3,000. Jockeys finishing higher than seventh will receive $2,500 along with their usual purse moneys.
Ellis said at the first meeting on Tuesday that the jockeys were not totally satisfied with the amount that they were being granted but accepted it based on the explanation from owners. However, he said after Thursday’s meeting that the sum became a bit more encouraging.
“For a losing ride, we were asking for more (Tuesday), but based on the owners assessment they couldn’t. They (owners) only got raised $1,000 on the appearance fee (for owners). So instead of going into their pockets, the $1,000 extra they are getting for appearance fee, they decided to put on our money,” he said.
“However, I went to another meeting yesterday (Thursday) and Supreme Ventures will be giving us another $500 on the $2,500, but this is from seventh place and below.