Guild disciplines jockeys who rode at Remington amid dispute

The Jockeys' Guild said it expelled or suspended jockeys who rode at Remington Park on Sept. 4 and 5 amid a dispute over riders' pay.

In late August, the Guild said, jockeys, both Jockeys’ Guild and non-Guild members, made the individual decision to not accept mounts because of the ongoing disputes with Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma over losing-mount fees.

The Oklahoma Thoroughbred jockeys had not received a raise since 2010, stopped being paid on the Oklahoma Breeders’ incentives included in purses in 2023 and are being required to pay individual Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority fees for each mount. Additionally, the Oklahoma quarter-horse jockeys began receiving $110 minimum losing mount fees at the beginning of 2025 meet at Remington Park.

Despite knowledge of these issues, several jockeys nonetheless chose to accept and ride mounts. 

The Guild’s Board met and, pursuant to its bylaws, determined that those jockeys’ actions constituted conduct harmful to the jockey colony at Remington Park and behavior detrimental to the Guild’s objectives.

The board unanimously decided to impose disciplinary actions, including expulsions and suspensions, on jockeys who accepted and rode mounts on Sept. 4 and 5 at Remington Park. As a result, those individuals no longer will receive the benefits associated with Guild membership, including temporary disability benefits, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurance benefit, representation and the health care reimbursement benefits that qualifying Guild members receive a result of the agreements between the Guild and participating racetracks.