Garrison jockeys fined and banned

BRIDGETOWN:  Barbados Jockeys Associa-tion president Randy Cumberbatch disclosed that association members were suspended for 30 days and fined $1,000 each for refusing to ride in races at the Garrisson Savannah on Saturday.

He told this to Sunsport shortly after attending a meeting with the stewards of the day. Word of this circulated around the track after jockeys refused to ride because that were not satisfied with the track conditions. But a release from the stewards afterwards made no mention of any such suspension or fines. It only indicated that the jockeys have decided they were not riding and consequently the Barbados Turf Club (BTC) had no alternative but to postpone racing.

When pressed on the matter by the media later, BTC director Philip Moseley would only say that punishment was a matter for the stewards, and it was his understanding, that in their deliberations, the stewards has made certain decisions with respect to penalties. Cumberbatch said his association was being left out of some important decisions by the club, and he reffered specifically to matters pertaining to preparation of the track. He said four members of the Jockeys Association were part of the track committee, but some decisions relating to the track were being made without the jockeys or the committee being informed or notified. With respect to the bone of the contention, the condition of the track, Cumberbatch said some jockeys have complained that the grass was cut too low and there was some moisture on it and as a result they were not going to ride. He said he relayed to the stewards the information that the jockeys were not pleased with the condition of the track and had indicated they were not riding.

Cumberbatch noted he had walked the track earlier in the morning with track manager Charles Downie and committee member Martyn King and John Chandler and had agreed at that time that the track was suitable for racing.