No progress in jockeys' dispute on mount fees.

Terry Meyocks, national manager of the Jockeys' Guild, and ITHA president Frank Kirby confirmed on Wednesday that an impasse exists and therefore not all of the riders are getting the raise from $45 to $75 per mount the riders believed was part of the agreement.

 

That afternoon at Hawthorne Race Course the jockeys refused to fulfill their commitments, delaying the start of the program until a deal was reached.

 

But three days later the jockeys were told Kirby had no authority to make a deal without getting approval of the ITHA membership and some owners refused to honor that day's commitment by their trainers to pay $75 per mount.

 

"We're about in the same place we were," Kirby confirmed.  "The ITHA can't enter into a contract agreement with an independent contractor.  The fee is negotiable."

 

Meyocks contends the $45 fee is inadequate in the current economic climate and isn't realistic compensation for the jockeys' efforts and the risk.

 

"Since 1985 the only raise the riders have gotten was a $5 increase in 2001," Meyocks said.  "Prices have gone up.  Health insurance has gone up.  Everything has skyrocketed."

 

He cited the case of a typical jockey who isn't among the track leaders and rides only three mounts per day.  If all three fail to finish first, second or third, the rider's only compensation is $135.  Of this amount, $33.75 (25 percent) goes to the jockey's agent, $6.75 (5 percent) goes to valet and, if the jockey is a Guild member, $12 goes to the Guild, leaving net pay of approximately $82.50 (or $27.50 per race) before taxes.

 

The ITHA is saying they need membership approval but in New York the NYTHA, which is run by the same organization, just needed the approval of its board of directors when it increased all mount fees (at least) $100, except in one category where it's $105," Meyocks said.

 

"When we raced at Hawthrone, (track president) Tim Carey and (general manager) Jim Miller were very supportive and now at Arlington Park so are (president) Roy Arnold and (vice-president) Kevin Greely.  The Illinois Racing Board has been very supportive.  Everybody has been very supportive except for the leadership of the horsemen's group.  We've been negotiating in good faith and nothing has happened."

 

According to Shelley Kalita, the Illinois Racing Board's general counsel/director of administration, ITHA leaders told her they are acting on the advice of legal counsel in refusing to make a blanket agreement.

 

"All we can do is mediate and clarify the existing rule (because) a 1972 Illinois Supreme Court case found it to be unconstitutional for the board to determine or set jockey mount fees," said Kalita.

 

In hopes of expediting an agreement the Racing Board has issued a directive indicating the stewards will enforce the rule that reads:  "No horse shall be allowed to start for any race and no jockey shall be weighed out until there has been paid or guaranteed a jockey fee."

 

Moreover, pursuant to the board-approved Arlington stall agreement, trainers are designated as authorized agents of the horses' owners and have the authority to hire a jockey and negotiate and guarantee mount fees.  Neil Milbert/Chicago Tribune