Guild Sanctions Remington Park Jockeys Who Broke Ranks

The Jockeys' Guild has voted to impose disciplinary actions on jockeys who accepted mounts and competed Sept. 4-5 at Remington Park after the organization had called on riders to not accept mounts at the Oklahoma City track. The Guild said that 26 riders, both Guild members and non-Guild members, in late August made individual decisions to not accept mounts to protest an ongoing dispute with the Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma in which riders were seeking an increase to losing mount fees. The Guild said despite those decisions, a number of riders accepted mounts and competed in races Sept. 4 and 5 at Remington. Both race cards were impacted as the 18 races averaged fewer than five starters and even saw a walkover in the third race Sept. 4 when Hard Gold was the lone starter in a one-mile claiming race. The Guild announced a resolution to the dispute Sept. 4. In a Sept. 23 release, the Guild said its board decided to sanction members who raced on those dates at Remington. "The Guild's board met and, upon review and consideration pursuant to its bylaws, has determined that those jockeys' actions constituted conduct harmful to the Jockey colony at Remington Park and behavior detrimental to the Guild's objectives," the Guild said in a release. "The Board unanimously determined to impose disciplinary actions, including expulsions and suspensions, on jockeys who accepted and rode mounts on September 4th and 5th at Remington Park. "As a result, those individuals will no longer receive the benefits associated with Guild membership, including temporary disability benefits, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance benefit, representation, and the health care reimbursement benefits that qualifying Guild members receive a result of the agreements between the Guild and participating racetracks." Terry Meyocks, the Jockeys' Guild president and CEO, said the board was deliberate in its approach and evaluated each rider case-by-case. How long a rider had been a Guild member, experience level, and whether there were circumstances that required them to ride were all factors considered. "It all goes back to the damage done to the jockeys throughout the country and not just in Oklahoma," he said. Some jockeys who have been suspended could be reinstated after a period of time, Meyocks said, and some have been permanently expelled. The Guild said Oklahoma Thoroughbred jockeys had not received a raise for losing mount fees since 2010, stopped being paid on the Oklahoma Breeders' incentives included in purses in 2023, and were being required to pay individual Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority fees for each mount. After lengthy negotiations, the Guild and the TRA of Oklahoma agreed Sept. 4 to terms of a three-year agreement on mount fees, which included a minimum $100 fee for a losing mount along with a fourth-place incentive. The HISA fee requirement was kept in place under the three-year deal.