Ian Spence aboard LADY T.File

Jockey Ian Spence is the new president of the Jamaica Jockey Guild. He was elected unopposed by his peers at a special general meeting of the guild held in the North Lounge at Caymanas Park on Friday, July 13.

Significantly, Spence who is popularly called 'Dolly Baby', replaced Robert Reid who himself was elected president some five weeks earlier.

But according to Spence, that was declared a 'bogus election' as it was in breach of the guild's constitution.

In that election, Reid defeated Spence and Gary Santos for the post of president and actually started his second three-year term when the Jamaica Racing Commission, after being asked to intervene, declared it null and void.

The new election was presided over by Rudolph Muir in his capacity as chairman of the Jamaica Racing Commission.

In addition to Spence, who will serve a three-year term, others elected to the executive were Utell Bailey (vice-president), Gary Santos (treasurer), Andron Findley (secretary) and Everton Miller (assistant secretary). Reid was not present at the meeting.

Spence, who is enjoying a good season having won the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks aboard LADY T, said he will work tirelessly to improve the lot of jockeys and unite them into a potent force in racing.

His priorities are to secure a better insurance scheme for jockeys, upgrading the Jockeys' Room to international standards, planning for the annual Jockeys' Guild raceday, the provision of a special scale in the Jockeys' Room which can be utilised on non-race days and the recovery of office equipment (computer, desk, file cabinet) removed by a "certain individual" after the recent election.

-Orville Clarke