Peter-John Parsard, last year’s most improved trainer’s $100,000 donation to the Jamaica Jockeys-Agents Association towards exercise riders’ licensing fees for the 2026-2027 season, has led the association’s president, Donovan Wilson, to call out Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL) after the promoting company’s $1-million contribution towards grooms’ permits.
Wilson, whose association speaks on behalf of exercise riders, jockeys and jockeys’ agents, said whereas grooms need the assistance to ensure they are regularised before the April 1 deadline, jockeys and exercise riders should have also been considered in a sport that rewards a handful of high achievers.
“The top 10 jockeys can probably afford to pay their licensing fees because their win percentages from purses put them at a higher income bracket. However, they are the minority of more than 100 riders licensed annually,” said Wilson.
“Parsard has stepped in with $100,000 towards exercise riders, of which the association will try to assist 10. However, we need some assistance for what could be more than 90-odd jockeys, who all make up the jockeys’ colony at Caymanas Park,” Wilson added, pointing out that exercise riders’ and jockeys’ licences fees, payable to the Jamaica Racing Commission, are yet to be determined, pending calculation of the insurance component attached to their permits.
“We know the licensing fees are going to be more expensive than last year and are bracing for it,” said Wilson.
“We are asking SVREL to, please, be equally considerate of the men and women putting in the work at exercise gallops in the mornings, and later in the day when the bugle blows to start the show.”
