Trainers expecting purse increase
Published:Thursday | August 26, 2021 | 12:09 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer -
United Racehorse Trainers Association of Jamaica (URTA) and its stakeholders are expecting a purse increase from Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL) heading into their meeting with the racing promoters this week.
Ian Parsard, who has been pushing for an increase on behalf of URTA and other stakeholders, said their previous meeting with the SVREL has been positive and they are hoping that the next will be the same.
“The discussions continue, they remain very positive, and of course the whole blow-up with COVID-19 and the lockdowns would have slowed down the progress, but we continue to push on nonetheless,” he said. “It has been overdue, but we have to deal with what is in front of us and, as I said, the response has been positive and hopefully, we will get a conclusion quite shortly.”
The last purse increase came in 2017 when SVREL offered an overall raise of $100 million after taking over operations at Caymanas Park.
Parsard said that the cost of horse maintenance has risen over the years and URTA is desperate for a purse increase right now.
"All those costs have gone up significantly and that’s why we need to look at some sort of an increase and, therefore, we are anticipating a positive outcome,” he said.
SVREL Executive Chairman Solomon Sharpe says they understand URTA’s plight, but the pandemic is posing a challenge to their demands.
“We are constantly looking and working together at improving the product, and the purse increase is just one element of improving the product,” Sharpe said.
“There is a significant amount of work that is being done and COVID-19 still rages its ugly head over our business, and our business has been hampered by constant stoppages and pivoting, which has not allowed us to see our true potential.”