Eustace Williams, an internationally accredited steward, says that jockeys are not usually penalised if they fail to ride out their mounts due to a claim of possible lameness during the race.

But for the jockey, it’s like walking on glass when he has to dismount if he feels all is not well with the horse.

In order to maintain confidence in the integrity of racing, it is particularly important that questions are asked or an inquiry is held when appearances suggest a horse may not have been run on its merits.

Williams said that the jockeys are taught at school and reminded throughout their careers that once they mount a horse in the parade ring, they are in charge and that they should report any uneasiness with the horse to the on-duty veterinarian.

“Once the jockeys have started a race and they still feel something is wrong — maybe before they never felt anything wrong or maybe they felt it and the vet never agreed with them — then their duty is not to hurt the animal; they are to pull up and stop riding, and they are to dismount and let the veterinarian examine the animal,” said Williams.

“The veterinarian can now tell whether the horse has infirmary lameness, because if the veterinarian cannot find it (lameness or injury) after the jockeys start the race and pull up, there might be an investigation by the stewards as to what really happened,” he added.

Williams further stated that the jockeys will now have to explain why they stopped riding and why the trained veterinarian said there was nothing wrong with the horse.

“That investigation will involve a lot of questions being posed to the jockey and him demonstrating on film, as we have a copy of the race, where and what was going on with the horse. We can detect some of the infirmary based on how the horses react, and if they [the jockeys] can’t satisfy us, they may face a sanction. If it [investigation] is inconclusive, then they will get a warning,” Williams explained.

Williams said that while the Jamaica Racing Commission (JRC) has nothing to do with gambling, rules are there to protect the betting public.

“Before the race, the jockeys should be able to point out to the veterinarian where the lameness is so that people who bet on the horse can get their money back. But once you enter the starting gates and the horse leaves, that betting money now depends on how the horse finishes, and so it is very important that if he [jockey] feels something is wrong before the race, he or she points it out to the veterinarians,” he noted.

Parchment, president of the Jamaica Jockeys’ ‘Guild, previously stated in an interview with the Jamaica Observer that jockeys are being punished for not riding the horses out in races.

“We are calling a meeting with the stewards to discuss that matter. I believe that stewards should give jockeys the benefit of the doubt because we are up there on the horses and can tell you how we feel. If you ride out a lame horse and that horse falls, we are going to fall as well, and we have to protect not only ourselves, but the horses as well,” Parchment had said.

Dr Sophia Ramlal, chief veterinarian at the JRC, said that one should seek veterinarians’ advice, as they are there to help state whether what the jockey believes is true or not.

“I think we [veterinarians] can guide the process. If the horse does not feel well, we clearly would not want a jockey to pressurise that horse to continue to run at full capacity. We expect that a jockey, once the horse is feeling normal, will give his best to that horse.

“So we have to strike that balance where we have jockeys riding horses according to their merit, but doing it in a safe way and not pushing the horse beyond its capabilities… and the stewards have that responsibility to make that judgment call and to seek the advice that will help them make that determination on whether or not what the jockeys are saying can be corroborated,” Dr Ramlal said.