Owners: We can’t pay more

OWNERS are not objecting to the demands of the grooms for an increase in pay but claimed they cannot meet any additional expenses until they talk with the Arima Race Club.

This was made known by Racehorse Owners Association president Luciano Woodley, who said his body is presently preparing proposals which will be submitted to the ARC as regards an increase in stakes.
Woodley said the ROA held discussions with the promoters (ARC) in this regard earlier in the year and were asked to hold their hand until June.
He said the ROA are doing an indepth study to see what was the cost of racing a horse since the sport was centralised in 1994 as against today’s cost.

“This comparison will then reflect what we have been through,” Woodley said. “While we are content to wait out the time given by the ARC we don’t intend to absorb anymore punches until the issue of increased stakes has been settled, he said. “We have supported racing through the hard times but look where it is taking us now,” he asked.
Woodley said the owners took a 30 percent cut in stakes a few years ago, which was never replaced when the sport was almost shut down by equine influenza. “We are running for the same money for too long a period while cost of upkeep keeps climbing. “We cannot continue absorbing anymore cost,” he declared.

Woodley agreed that owners enjoyed a slight increase in stakes last year at the lower levels, but he claimed that riding and training fees, and those of the farriers, grassmen, shaving, feed and other related products have eaten into it. He asked. “Are owners the biggest fools.”
The ROA called a meeting on Sunday to discuss the issue of rising costs. At that meeting some owners proposed a 100 percent increase in stakes. Woodley said the increase of caring of a horse from $150 to $175 agreed upon by the trainers with their employees last week, will not be met by the owners. “The conditioners were recently granted an increase in training fees and are the ones to bear that cost,” he stated.