Horse grooming is a challenging job that requires a lot of time and effort if success is to be achieved. And, according to grooms’ President Fabian White, they are the most important aspect in horse conditioning and well-being, so a boost in pay is well-deserved by members of his organisation.

Grooms are presently paid a total of $4,200 to take care of one horse per week and the association members are now asking for $5,400, an increase of $1,200, to groom one horse per week.

With over 400 licensed grooms employed at Caymanas Park, White stated that his members are struggling to keep up in their daily lives and that an increase is required to address the difficulties.

“These are difficult times for us as grooms. Food, medicine, rent, light bills, water bills, and the general expense of life have all risen, as they say, the cost of living has skyrocketed,” White told The Supreme Racing Guide of the Jamaica Observer.

“Trust me, the grooms are suffering, and an increase would be most welcome. We need an increase and it was supposed to be effective last Friday, July 7, 2023 and we were intended to withdrew our services but unfortunately the owners and trainers come together and said they need raise a purse before they can pay us,” White further stated.

White has stated unequivocally that the current demand for an increase in grooms’ pay has nothing to do with the current purse negotiations with racing stakeholders.

“I want to be clear that the increase we are requesting is not based on whether or not there is a general increase in purse money.

“We need this raise to keep our already challenging way of life going.

“And so I am letting them know straight forward that the two things don’t really mesh. We get angry for our pay increase and they [owners and trainers] get angry for their purse increase; kudos to them and negotiation to continue,” White explained.

White explained that the trainers, owners, and other stakeholders have been asking them to hold off a bit until a new purse structure is agreed on with the local promoter of horse racing.

This weekend’s live racing was cancelled due to a stalemate between the promoting company, Supreme Ventures Racing and Entertainment Limited (SVREL), and stakeholders.

That bargaining endeavour between the two came to a halt on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, when stakeholders rejected an offer to enhance purses by $27 million at a meeting held at Caymanas Park.