The 50-year-old Jamaica Racehorse Trainers Association (JRTA) and the United Racehorse Trainers Association of Jamaica Ltd (URTA) which represent the majority of licensed racehorse trainers at Caymanas Park have reached an agreement in principle to merge both entities into one association with the common purpose of representing the needs of trainers.

The decision was reached recently at a top-level meeting held between senior officers of both sides to bring representation of licensed trainers at Caymanas Park under one umbrella. The JRTA was represented by its president Vincent Edwards and Welsh Soutar while president Richard Todd and Robert Darby Snr represented the URTA.

Edwards told the Complete Racing Guide on Wednesday that “the move is a step in the right direction”.

“I am fully in support and it is one that I am ready to work with. However, talks are ongoing for while agreement on the merger has been reached in principle, details have to be worked out as the JRTA, is a trade union while the URTA, is a company,” Edwards informed

The situation of the JRTA being a trade union and URTA a registered company was also addressed by Todd.

“Firstly, I want to make it clear that I support in principle the coming together of the two associations.

“I have resigned from my position as president of the URTA with Robert Darby Snr now acting in the position.

“I now await Mr Vincent Edwards to follow suit and resign as president of the JRTA, thereby allowing for fresh elections to be held giving the trainers the very important right of choice including whether or not the proposed one association will be a trade union or a company. That is a choice which cannot be made before elections are held, as that choice belongs to the membership,” Todd opined.

Neither Todd nor Edwards gave any indication as to whether they would be seeking the leadership position of the amalgamated association.

But both Todd and Edwards were in agreement that the meeting of unification was in response to calls made by the membership of the two associations and the need to promote good faith and positive intent.