JRC meets racehorse trainers

The Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) will meet with the Jamaica Racehorse Trainers’ Association at 3 p.m. in an effort to prevent a shutdown of local horseracing.



A five-day ultimatum issued to Minister Don Wehby by the trainers’ association to respond to their demands expires today.



The trainers’ association 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 JRC.



President of the trainers’ association, Vin Edwards, said strike action by the trainers is now on hold pending the outcome of today’s meeting with the JRC.



Edwards said a meeting is scheduled with the trainers for tomorrow to discuss the outcome of today’s meeting with the regulatory body.



He said if the trainers’ are not satisfied than strike action will be taken.



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



Edwards said 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.