Jockeys strike looms large

Bangalore, Feb 26: A major confrontation between the Joint Turf Authorities of India TAI and the Jockeys Association of India JAI could ...

Bangalore, Feb 26: A major confrontation between the Joint Turf Authorities of India TAI and the Jockeys Association of India JAI could well spoil the racing8217;s biggest extravaganza over the weekend at Hyderabad. The bone of contention is the payment of half-percent of stake money towards the Professional Jockeys Trust of India.

With the Turf Authorities of India going back on their earlier commitment, the mood of the jockeys is one of confrontation. Unless the authorities revert to their earlier stand, the jockeys are likely to go on strike by refusing to ride during the prestigious Classic Turf Invitation weekend which is held on a rotation basis at five centres and which is being hosted by Hyderabad this year.

The stand-off has spread panic not only among the racing administrators but also has put the sponsors, the ITC, on tenterhooks as their commitment to the event is nearly Rs 1 crore.

The JAI had formed a trust to aid jockeys who were either disabled while riding or those forced to retireowing to injury or advancing age. On an average, every year about five jockeys are either crippled or suffer fatal injuries. The jockeys do not enjoy benefits like pension, provident fund or gratuity.

The insurance cover taken by the club and JAI restricts the benefit and is given only in the event of a permanent disability to the jockey or, alternatively, to his dependents in the event of death by accident. However, in cases of natural death, no compensation is forthcoming.

With a view to offer more protection to its members, a Trust was constituted with the jockeys contributing half-percent of their winning stakes together with half-percent of total stakes offered at various race centres, besides raising money through other means.

On a representation by the JAI, the Joint Turf Authorities of India, in their communication on October 23, 1997, said the turf clubs were agreeable to paying half-percent stakes to the Trust. However, the Turf Authorities went back on their resolution within four months intheir communication of February 14, 1998.

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This volte face by the Turf Authorities has upset JAI who had been individually informed by all the turf authorities about their commitment to the Trust. The jockeys are at a loss as to what compelled the clubs to reverse their earlier decision.

The JAI has also asked other TAI to persuade the Madras Race Club MRC to recover from the earnings of the Chennai-based jockeys the contribution towards the JAI Injured Jockeys Daily Compensation Fund and the Professional Jockeys Trust of India.