Orville Clarke, Freelance Writer
EDWARDS
RACEHORSE GROOMS at Caymanas Park are restive, having rejected a proposed 20 per cent pay increase at a meeting of the Grooms' Association last Thursday at the track.
Paul Pancho, president of the Grooms' Association of Jamaica, disclosed that his association has had meetings with representatives of the Jamaica Racehorse Trainers' Association (JRTA) to come up with a new pay package. But the 20 per cent proposed by the trainers was rejected by the grooms.
Another meeting between the grooms and the Vin Edwards-led JRTA to try and break the deadlock is scheduled for Friday, March 31.
Pancho said they are seeking $3,720 for the first horse, up from $1,500 plus $1,488 for each additional horse, representing a 40 per cent increase for second and third horses.
If this proposal is accepted, Pancho said grooms who look after an average of two horses would receive a gross pay of $5,208 per week, or $4,507 after taxes.
"Some people in the industry would say the level of increase is substantial at this time, but grooms have been underpaid for so long that they can barely survive," explained Pancho, who was elected unopposed as president of the association on January 5.
"My aim is to bring justice and proper administration to the business which will foster a more professional approach to racing," he added.
Grooms last received a pay hike in December 2003 when Fabian White was president.
Pancho said what they are asking for is reasonable and the trainers can each afford to pay. There are 417 licensed grooms at Caymanas Park.
It was the general belief that the grooms rejected the trainers' proposal when it was learnt that jockeys were awarded a 150 per cent pay hike by the Jamaica Racing Commission, effective March 1.
However, Pancho said this had nothing to do with the increase riding fees to jockeys, as the grooms' proposal had been on the table for some time.
Reacting to the jockeys' pay hike and the pending increase to grooms, Edwards has put up his entire string of 16 horses for sale.
"This is foolishness," he declared. "How can we survive with other occupational groups asking for and getting substantial increases when the industry cannot afford it at this time.
"What if we as trainers were to ask for 150 per cent? It would bring the whole industry into chaos," he warned.
