Negotiations break down over losing jockey mount fees in Oklahoma

Thoroughbred jockeys at Remington Park are refusing to be named on mounts at the track beginning with the overnight for the Sept. 4 card while negotiations continue on a new fee scale for losing mounts with the track’s horsemen’s group, according to officials.

The riders began declining to commit to mounts after the Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma (TRAO), which represents trainers and owners at Remington, sent a notice to its members on Tuesday night saying that the group has been “unable to reach an agreement with The Jockeys’ Guild” on a new schedule for losing mount fees. The notice included proposals from each side about the rates.

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The Jockeys’ Guild and TRAO have been in discussions for several months on an increase for losing mount fees, according to Terry Meyocks, the chief executive of the guild. The Guild is seeking a minimum losing mount fee of $110, while the TRAO has offered a minimum of $90.

The guild has been pressing for increases in losing mount fees in many jurisdictions over the past decade, citing the rising cost of living and inaction in many states on raising the fees. The current schedule in Oklahoma has been in place since 2010 without any adjustment, Meyocks said.

Remington Park has three live race cards already drawn in which riders have accepted mounts, running from Thursday through Saturday.

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