By Orville Clarke, Freelance WriterTHE DISPUTE between members of the Jamaica Racehorse Trainers Association (JRTA) and the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) has taken a positive turn following the intervention of State Minister of Finance Fitz Jackson on Friday.This as paved the way for the resumption of racing at Caymanas Park next Saturday.
Jackson has agreed to sit with both parties at a meeting to resolve the issue. The meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 29 at the Ministry of Finance, Heroes Circle, starting at 10:00 a.m. Ambassador Seymour Mullings, who the trainers requested as mediator, will also be present.
In light of this development, JRTA president Vin Edwards, told The Gleaner yesterday that trainers would end their boycott and nominate horses for the next scheduled race meeting on September 25.
The impasse came to a head following seven amendments to Rule 247 by the JRC (effective September 1) which provide stiffer penalties for trainers with positive findings. As a result, the trainers took protest action by withholding nominations for the past four scheduled race meets.
These were Wednesday, Sep-tember 8, Saturday, September 11, Wednesday, September 15 as well as yesterday. The Gazetted amendments saw the maximum fine moving from $100,000 to $250,000 and suspensions of up to seven years for Class One drugs.
The trainers voted to continue their boycott at a general meeting on Thursday morning at Cay-manas Park. They took this action after rejecting the position of JRC chairman Rudolph Muir in a letter to the JRTA, dated September 14. They then called on the intervention of the minister.
Nominations for Saturday's meet close on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. inside the Racing Office, with the inaugural running of the $1 million CTL Imported Stakes for three-year-olds over 1400 metres and the Reggae Trophy Graded Stakes for top-class horses over the straight five course, being the co-featues.
