The Jockeys Association yesterday held a meeting at Santa Rosa Park, Arima, under the guidance of president Sheldon Rodrigo. The meeting, which was well attended although several of the seasoned campaigners were missing, will continue tomorrow morning.
At yesterday's meeting, a senior official of the Arima Race Club (ARC), who was invited by president Rodrigo, attended the meeting and spoke to the jockeys. This to many of the jockeys was a conflict of interest and this is why the association will continue the meeting tomorrow at the centralised facility.
Owner/trainer Glen Mohammed, who himself was invited to the meeting, abstained from going into the meeting because it was a conflict of interest.
The jockeys were meeting to discuss monies owed to them over the past year and they are unhappy with the present situation where some $750,000 is owed to them. Some jockeys are saying that the trainers are being paid by owners, so they will not suffer in the manner in which the jockeys are suffering now.
According to a source, there is talk of selling ARC land but that will not happen in two to three months.
"It is a lengthy process and I don't think that will happen any time soon. I think we should call and ask Betting Levy Board (BLB) chairman Linford Carrabon if the land deal can be settled in quick time," said to the source.
After tomorrow's meeting, the association will then pen a letter to the ARC asking for a meeting, as to ascertain a way forward in solving its challenge as jockeys want the air cleared as racing moves to restart on July 27.