Trainers not backing down

President of the Jamaica Racehorse Trainers’ Association (JRTA), Vin Edwards, says his association will not back down on the five-day ultimatum issued to Minister Don Wehby to respond to their demands.



The Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) wants Minister Wehby, whose responsibilities include the horseracing industry, to address a few matters affecting the stakeholders.



The trainers are disgruntled with the level of increases in user and registration fees by the Jamaica Racing Commission, without any consultation with the stakeholders.



The trainers are also angry about the response by Caymanas Track Limited (CTL), Chairman Pat Rousseau after he was instructed by Wehby to meet with the heads of several other horse racing stakeholders.



Edwards says Rousseau was less-than-sincere in his efforts to address their concerns, chief of which was a $40 million purse increase which had been rejected by the associations.



The association is demanding an increase of $140 million.



Edwards says his association is considering strike action after the ultimatum expires on Tuesday.



He further says his association is calling for the return of Chris Armond to guide the affairs of racing at Caymanas Park.



Armond was CTL vice-president of racing and promotions from 1989 to 1998. Since his resignation in 1998, he has served in top managerial positions in Trinidad and Tobago.



Edwards further says the JRC has invited the trainers’ association to a meeting on Tuesday, the day when the five-day ultimatum expires.