Aqueduct cancels Sunday after jockeys refuse to ride

Aqueduct canceled the remainder of its Sunday card after jockeys refused to ride following the first race.

The New York Racing Association said jockeys protested the duties of the clerk of scales and assistant clerk of scales. Despite efforts by NYRA management, riders declined to participate in the remaining eight races on the nine-race program.

"NYRA is responsible for oversight of the clerk of scales, assistant clerk of scales and all racing officials in accordance with New York State Gaming Commission rules," Andrew Offerman, NYRA senior vice president of racing and operations, said in a statement. "The procedures employed by those officials are designed to protect the integrity of racing and are NYRA's responsibility to maintain and enforce."

Jockeys expressed no objections to the condition of the track or weather.

Kendrick Carmouche, the New York representative for the Jockeys' Guild, told Daily Racing Form that NYRA officials sent home Brian Pochman, the assistant clerk of scales, on Sunday. Pochman confirmed to DRF that he was sent home but declined further comment.

"They are making him do more than he's supposed to and he said he wasn't comfortable with doing that, so they sent him home," Carmouche told DRF.

Carmouche said the cancellation reflected broader grievances with NYRA management.

"They don't respect us, they don't care about our feelings, they don't care about making us feel like we're the head of the sport because we are the jocks, we do make the show go on," Carmouche said. "It's the jockeys and the valets standing up for what's right."

Tina Bond, president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, told DRF the situation reflected poorly on the organization: "This is a bad day for our sport in New York."

Live racing is scheduled to resume Thursday with an eight-race card. First post is 12:40 p.m. EST.