The Jockeys’ Guild and the New Mexico Horsemen’s Association have reached an agreement on a new mount fee schedule that will provide an increase in base mount fees for jockeys at all New Mexico tracks.
India Hatch, the executive director of the New Mexico Racing Commission, has temporarily approved the agreement. The new scale is to go into effect April 8, and then the full Commission is to ratify the new scale during its April meeting.
The new mount fee schedule calls for a minimum mount fee of $50 ranging up to $110 depending on the purse of the race. Additionally, a separate jockey fee was added for fourth-place finishers. Previously, mount fees in New Mexico were scaled from $38 to $105. The new rule increases the mount fee scale for all races run at Sunland Park, SunRay Park, The Downs at Albuquerque, Ruidoso Downs, and Zia Park.
“A lot of hard work over 2 1/2 years has gone into reaching this agreement,” said Terry Meyocks, national manager for the Jockeys’ Guild. “I would like to thank our regional manager John Beech and our in-house counsel Mindy Coleman for their dedication to reaching an agreement. Most of all, thanks go to the New Mexico jockeys for their patience and support during these prolonged negotiations.”