The Jockey’s Benefit Association of Canada (JBAC) has asked the Horseman’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) to review the fees that Ontario jockeys will earn in 2021. The current contract with the jockeys dates back to 1991, and was last reviewed in 2002 when it was determined that the increased purses from the now defunct Slots-At-Racetrack-Program represented a significant pay increase for the jockeys, so the fees remained the same. In July 2019, the JBAC asked to have the contract reviewed, but the HBPA requested that the discussions be held in advance of the 2020 racing season. As a result of the pandemic, however, the negotiations were put off a further year, and now the jockeys are seeking to resolve the issue in advance of the 2021 racing season.
Currently, Ontario jockeys receive 10% of the purse if they ride the winner, between 3.3% and 4.8% for placing second, and between 4.2% and 6.7% for third, depending on the purse. Mount fees range from $53 up to $100. When they first approached the HBPA in 2019, the JBAC proposed that jockeys receive the same fees as jockeys in the United States which is 10% of the purse for first, and 5% for second and third and an increased mount fee. According to Irwin Driedger, the executive director of JBAC, the HBPA thought it would be more appropriate to use a Canadian standard and requested those rates. As a result of much lower purse money and fewer race dates in western Canada, however, the fees for jockeys are 10% across the board.
A comparison of fees that Ontario jockey’s currently earn alongside the proposed fee of 10/10/10 as seen in Western Canada and the 10/5/5 breakdown used in the US.
“We originally asked for the lesser of the two,” explained Driedger. “Once [the HBPA] found out the Canadian rate, they wanted to go back to the US fees and were going to research what they were in Kentucky and Florida, but we never heard back.”
“It’s difficult to compare our jurisdictions to Florida or New York,” said an HBPA spokesperson.
The request for an increase has been met with some resistance by Ontario trainers and owners.
“When somebody asks for a raise it’s never a good time. We’ve asked repeatedly for an acceptable date to negotiate this contract but they haven’t acknowledged us, so we gave them a date.”
“The lower riders should probably get more riding money,” said Sovereign Award winning Ivan Dalos of Tall Oaks Farm. “Not a percentage of the win, but a higher flat fee for riding the horse. That would help the jockeys at the lower end of the scale that aren’t making the big bucks, but the top riders are making millions. The owners aren’t making any money, so I think for them to ask for this increase is unfair.”
“They haven’t had a pay increase in a long time so I would agree they deserve an increase for the mount fee,” said Woodbine-based trainer Bill Tharrenos. “But asking for such a big increase across the board during a pandemic where the owners are suffering in the worst crisis that the thoroughbred industry has ever been in with no live racing is unconscionable.”
Earlier this year, the HBPA offered to increase the mount fee to $75 across the board, but that was rejected by JCBA.
“The HBPA Board has respect and appreciation for our jockeys, and we are not saying that a review is not in order especially as it applies to the unplaced mount fees,” wrote the HBPA in a letter to members. “We are just asking that we delay the negotiation until we can be sure owners and trainers will have the ability to race and participate with their horses.”
“Right now we are very uncomfortable with doing anything while owners are in such dire straits with no horse income,” said an HBPA spokesperson. “Not that we aren’t sympathetic, but it just doesn’t seem to be the time to be increase anybody’s salary.”
“I agree the timing isn’t the best, but give us a time,” said Driedger, adding that he successfully negotiated a new contract in Alberta last year that went into effect three weeks before the end of the season and a new contract in Manitoba just last week. “When somebody asks for a raise it’s never a good time. We’ve asked repeatedly for an acceptable date to negotiate this contract but they haven’t acknowledged us, so we gave them a date.”
More from Jockeys:
