NYRA riders to get more pay for riding losing mounts

New York horsemen and the Jockeys’ Guild reached an agreement to raise losing mounts for jockeys at New York Racing Association tracks, it was announced in a press release Wednesday.

Jockeys on horses who finish fourth will receive $125 in races with purses under $50,000, $175 in races with purses from $50,000 to $99,999 and 5-percent of purse earnings in raises with purses of $100,000 or higher. Jockeys who finish fifth or worse will receive from $110 to $500 depending on the purse of the race.

Under previous agreement, the losing mount on horses who finish worse than third was $100. This is the first raise in losing mount fees since 2008.

The new pay scale goes into effect with the opening of the Saratoga meet on July 20. That’s when a new purse distribution of goes into effect with winners earning 55-percent of the purse instead of 60,; second-through fourth earnin, 20-12-6-4, respectively, and the remaining finishers splitting 3 percent.

“Through what were highly constructive negotiations with the Guild, we were able to reach what we believe is an equitable arrangement for the NYRA riders,” Joe Appelbaum, president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, said, in a press release. “We all know the risks that the riders face on a daily basis, and we are fortunate to have such an elite jockey colony in New York.”

Also, NYTHA has committed to increase its contribution to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys’ Fund from $17,000 to a guaranteed $20,000 annually.