While efforts have been made to arrive at a resolution and, by extension, ensure a speedy return of live racing at Caymanas Park, the purse standoff between promoting company Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL) and horsemen remains at a deadlock and threatens the cancellation of another race meet.
This, as United Racehorse Trainers' Association of Jamaica (URTAJ) president Patrick Smellie and his counterparts declared intentions to again withhold nominations, if SVREL doesn’t offer a more attractive purse increase instead of the $27 million that was already rejected and resulted in the cancellation of races on July 15 and 16.
“We the trainers have decided that we are still not accepting the $27 million increase in purse money from SVREL because there is an anomaly in the numbers based on why we signed for 49 per cent. So, we are still questioning why that has happened and the trainers have decided that they will not run races for $27 million and so no nomination tomorrow [Tuesday],” the URTAJ president declared.
Though Smellie and members of his group had discussions among themselves, their decision stems from a meeting between representatives of the promoting company, including chairman Solomon Sharpe, and Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) of Jamaica on Monday, where the horsemen maintained their stance against the inadequate amount.
In fact, TOBA, represented by directors Andrew Azar, Garwin Tulloch and vice-president Desmond Lewis, accompanied by Chief Executive Officer, Ainsley Walters, made a few recommendations, as they sought to have SVREL consider increasing its offer.
Despite the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Commission (BGLC) confirming SVREL’s income as $5.3 billion and not the $6.2 billion which sparked the standoff, TOBA in a release on Monday, pointed out that it laid down a few terms as a possible way forward.
The owners group recommended that SVREL’s overpayment of taxes on $6.2 billion in sales initially reported, amounting to what should be approximately $41.7 million in rebates, be put to purse money for 2023, along with the $18 million Quarterly Incentive payments to owners, trainers, jockeys and grooms.
Additionally, TOBA believes a three per cent commission earned from inter-tote wagering on local racing, could also be allotted to purses and they also required a full disclosure of SVREL’s arrangement with BetMakers as it relates to fixed-odds betting, with a view that a percentage of those profits should also put to purses going forward.
Meanwhile, TOBA said it acknowledges SVREL’s request for time to analyze and consider the recommendations tabled.
“Though SVREL acknowledged TOBA’s recommendations, committing to re-engage the association, the promoting company cited circumstances beyond their control as external factors to be considered ahead of resuming discussions. TOBA awaits SVREL’s return to dialogue in order to hasten the resumption of local racing as the hub of the thoroughbred industry,” the release stated.
“SVREL added to the discourse by pointing to funds taken from the racing industry unclaimed winnings, which it believes should be returned to purses annually, suggesting TOBA could lead the lobby for racing’s monies to remain in the industry,” it noted, adding that owners were advised to continue paying the expenses for keep and care of horses.