Most of Maryland's top jockeys, including Mark Johnston, Larry Reynolds, Mario Pino and Joe Rocco, said yesterday that they will support a nationwide riders walkout if such a job action is launched Jan. 1 by Jockeys' Guild members.
Of the leading jockeys interviewed yesterday, only Edgar Prado wavered on declaring whether he will ride, saying he will wait until Dec. 31 to make up his mind.
"The guild can't strike. It is not a union," said Reynolds, one of three riders who represented the local jockey colony at the guild's annual board meeting in Las Vegas earlier this week.
"It is up to each individual whether he or she will or will not ride. But I'd say that Maryland [jockeys] should be pretty strong in support of the walkout if it occurs. Of course, we're all hoping it doesn't get to that point, but it's just too dangerous for us to go out there every day without the proper accident or health insurance."
At issue is funding for the benefits package that the guild provides for its riders by selling the jockeys' media rights to the Thoroughbred Racing Associations, the organization representing the bulk of the nation's racetracks.
Currently a flat rate ranging from $2.75 to $5.75 per mount in each live race at a TRA-member track goes to a riders' benefits fund in exchange for the jockeys' media rights, such as selling their images in interstate simulcasts.
"But because the number of live races is decreasing as more and more tracks rely on simulcasting, less money is going into the fund," Reynolds said. "It lost something like $150,000 last year."
The current three-year contract between the guild and the TRA expires Dec. 31.
So far, after a series of about a half-dozen meetings, no progress has been made on finding an acceptable formula to increase funding. The two sides are continuing to meet this week at the University of Arizona Symposium on Racing in Tucson.
Jimmy Edwards, the guild representative for the Middle Atlantic region, will be at Laurel Park today to address the jockeys and "to fill them in on what happened at the Las Vegas meeting," Edwards said.
"I've never seen the membership more united on any one issue. The problem is that when jockeys retire, no one will insure them. They can't pass the physicals because of the number of injuries that they have incurred. It's the obligation of the industry to take care of them."
At the end of the guild's board meeting Tuesday, such jockeys as Jerry Bailey, the national guild president, and Chris McCarron said they will not ride Jan. 1 if a contract has not been signed with the TRA.
Horse sale is canceled
Bob Rawlings, whose Rawlings Auctioneering Service had scheduled a horse sale at the Charles Town track Dec. 12, has canceled it.
"Most guys pulled their horses out of the sale because now they don't have to leave the track," he said.
The local division of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association negotiated a deal with track management that allows the horsemen to stay on the grounds through Dec. 31.
The HBPA will pick up maintenance costs of about $2,500 a day to keep the stable area and track open for training, Rawlings said. "They are also negotiating to keep the place open in January," he added.
Despite the stable area remaining open, Charles Town management still plans to curtail live racing this Sunday and stay open for simulcasts only until Dec. 31. After that, management does not plan to apply for 1995 dates.
Despite the availability of stabling, many trainers are leaving Charles Town because there will be no live racing.