from the Jockeys' Guild
Jockeys at Gulfstream Park as well as Calder Race Course will receive an increase in losing-mount fees beginning Jan. 15.
The new scale provides for losing-mount fees to range from $75 to $105 at the top of the purse scale. Previously, the fee started at $55 or $65, depending on the track.
“I would like to thank (Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association president) Sam Gordon, the board of the Florida HBPA, and (Gulfstream president and general manager) Bill Murphy for working with the jockeys and Herbie Rivera, the Guild’s regional manager, to reach this agreement,” said Terry Meyocks, national manager of the Jockeys’ Guild.
“After a meeting involving the Florida HBPA, (Guild president) John Velazquez, and a number of other leading riders in South Florida, the two sides were able to reach an equitable agreement,” Meyocks said. “The jockeys look forward to working with the Florida HBPA and the industry in South Florida on other initiatives that would be beneficial to the horsemen and the industry in general.”
“We appreciate the contributions of the jockeys to the sport and are happy to help the South Florida riders,” Gordon said. “The entire board voted unanimously to accept this agreement, and will revisit the scale next year. We want to work together with the jockeys to do more for racing in South Florida down the road.”
“The increases are fair for all the riders and spread evenly across the board,” Florida HBPA board member Tim Ritvo said. “The same pay scale will be in effect at all the race meets in South Florida. To the credit of the Gulfstream jockeys, they could have gotten more at Gulfstream but unselfishly gave that up in order to help the riders year-round at Calder.”
The new scale follows increases in mount fees through legislation at California tracks and negotiated increases at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack, the New York Racing Association tracks, Monmouth Park, Meadowlands, Atlantic City Race Course, Hawthorne Race Course, Arlington Park, Fairmount Park, Indiana Downs, Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, Tampa Bay Downs, and Turf Paradise.
Jockeys at Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack and Hollywood casino at Penn National also received raises in their losing-mount fees.