Oklahoma jockeys, state regulators are in dispute over pay
A war of words has erupted between jockeys and state regulators in Oklahoma over how much money should be guaranteed to riders in Thoroughbred races.
Even though a work stoppage has not been mentioned formally, statements this week from the Jockeys’ Guild and the Thoroughbred Racing Association of Oklahoma have walked up to that threshold. No jockeys are named on the overnights or in the entries for next Thursday’s card at Remington Park, where the current meet began Aug. 8.
Based on their statements, the two sides appear to be $20 apart on how much losing jockeys should be paid for each race. The TRAO has offered $90, and the Guild wants $110. The current minimum is $75, meaning an increase could be between 20% and 47%.
“The Oklahoma Thoroughbred jockeys have not received an increase in 15 years and have been attempting to reach an agreement for an increase since 2021,” the Jockeys’ Guild said in a news release Wednesday. “During that time the Guild, at the direction of the jockeys, continued to act in good faith and provide reasonable proposals to TRAO. The response from TRAO was it ‘was not willing to take action’ until the end April of this year. At that time, TRAO sent a counterproposal which provided for a nominal $5 increase and also included a fourth-place incentive that the Guild had provided in one of the previous proposals.”
Saying on its Facebook page Tuesday that “we were unable to reach an agreement with the Jockey’s Guild,” the TRAO posted a comparison of the two sides’ specific proposals. They included the standard 10% payment of win purses to victorious jockeys with 5% from the place and show purses going to the next two finishers.
| Jockeys vs. TRAO | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guild proposal | ||||
| Purse | 1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place | Min. |
| $1,000 - $39,999 | 10% win purse | 5% place or $120* | 5% show or $115* | $110 |
| $40,000 - $74,999 | 10% win purse | 5% place purse | 5% show purse | $115 |
| $75,000 - $99,999 | 10% win purse | 5% place purse | 5% show purse | $120 |
| $100,000 and up | 10% win purse | 5% place purse | 5% show purse | $140 |
| TRAO proposal | ||||
| Purse | 1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place | Min. |
| $1,000 - $24,999 | 10% win purse | 5% place purse | 5% show purse | $90 |
| $25,000 - $49,999 | 10% win purse | 5% place purse | 5% show purse | $100 |
| $50,000 - $99,999 | 10% win purse | 5% place purse | 5% show purse | $110 |
| $100,000 and up | 10% win purse | 5% place purse | 5% show purse | $120 |
| *Greater amount |
The minimum for finishing fourth or worse is the biggest bone of contention. The TRAO said it offered gradually increasing amounts for races worth less than $25,000, $50,000, $100,000 and then at least $100,000, It proposed stair-stepped minimums of $90, $100, $110 and $120. The Guild countered with $110, $115, $120 and $140. The current scale is $75, $80, $85 and $105.
By comparison, the TRAO presented similar charts for other states and racetracks. Oaklawn has a comparable minimum range shown to be $80-$250, Louisiana $75-$130, Texas $77-132 and Finger Lakes $80-$115. It said “after careful analysis, the TRAO believes that our proposal was fair and in line with those used in neighboring regions.”
The Guild said Wednesday that the TRAO was ignoring the fact it already pays riders in quarter-horse, paint and Appaloosa races the higher scale it wants for Thoroughbred jockeys. It also said riders at Remington Park and Will Rogers Downs are on the hook for Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority fees not charged in other states and that jockeys are not being paid any percentage of incentives baked into races for Oklahoma-bred horses.
“For all of these reasons, the Oklahoma Thoroughbred jockeys believe it is only fair and reasonable to be afforded the increase to a minimum of $110 per mount,” the Guild said. “They are simply asking to be provided with the same scale that has been approved for the Oklahoma quarter-horse jockeys.”
The Guild emphasized that its beef was with the TRAO and not specifically with Remington Park, where it said it “has a longstanding working relationship ... and hopes to continue to do so moving forward.”
In short, the TRAO is trying to hold the line on the increasing cost to run races. Jockeys, who work independently but authorize the Guild to advocate for them, are trying to make ends meet against inflation.
“While we recognize the cost of racing has increased for the owners and horsemen, it has also increased for the jockeys,” the Guild said. “... The current jockey mount fees are not sufficient to allow the jockeys, those who are risking their lives, to earn a fair living for themselves and their families.”