(Edited press release)
Charles Town Races & Slots jockeys will receive an increase in their losing mount fees beginning March 1 as a result of a new agreement between the Jockeys’ Guild and the Charles Town Horsemen’s Benevolent Protective Association.
The agreement provides for an increase in losing mount fees to a scale of $75 to $105 compared to the previous scale of $45 to $105.
“We are pleased to reach this accord and would like to thank CTHBPA president Randy Funkhouser, the board of the CTHBPA, its executive director Lenny Hale, as well as the Guild’s regional manager Larry Saumell and jockey Larry Reynolds for their time and effort in reaching this agreement.
As a group, the jockeys are to be commended for their patience and commitment to reaching this agreement in a proper manner,” said Terry Meyocks, national manger of the Jockeys’ Guild. “It is our belief that the jockeys working with owners, trainers, and all the other segments of the racing industry, can help better the sport at Charles Town. The jockeys look forward to that challenge.”
This new scale follows increases in mount fees through legislation at California tracks and negotiated increases at Aqueduct, Belmont Park, Saratoga, Finger Lakes, Monmouth, Meadowlands, Atlantic City, Hawthorne, Arlington, Gulfstream Park, Calder, Prairie Meadows, Fairmount Park, Indiana Downs, Hoosier Park, Tampa Bay Downs, and Turf Paradise. Jockeys at Philadelphia Park and Penn National have also received raises in their losing mount fees.