California's 'Lens of Equity' Could Benefit Jockeys

[Andy Asaro]

https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.co...nefit-jockeys/



Excerpt:


“The other thing I believe this has to do with is about fairness and equity,” Gonzales said. Gonzales pointed out that to his understanding, neither Victor Espinoza nor Mike Smith were awarded breeding shares in American Pharoah and Justify after their respective Triple Crown championships, even though both stallions had won Grade I stakes in California along the way. “So I question that fairness,” Gonzales continued. “I believe that there's a lack of consistency. And this board, being as reform-minded as we strive to be, are always looking for disparities and things that we can fix.”

Commissioner Wendy Mitchell expressed support for the concept. “I read one press report that it's a 'radical idea,'” Mitchell said. “And I appreciate that we're making changes; this board is going in new directions that have not been seen in horse racing. And we see other states and other jurisdictions following suit.” Mitchell continued: “As far as the breeding rights for jockeys, I think [that policy] is a brilliant idea, because it goes to the 'equity lens' that every commission in the state of California is looking at policies through… It's the governor's directive. It's what everyone is talking about and what we should be looking at.” The concept of an “equity lens” has been increasingly championed over the past several years by Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose “California for All” message underscores that state government must strive to serve all citizens and advance all forms of diversity, fairness and inclusion,
especially among marginalized populations. It encompasses everything from policing to road-building to public health and housing-and now horse racing, too.

[Tom]

The nonsense never ends.
Both riders were paid well for their services.
End of story.

[Andy Asaro]

Originally Posted by Tom

The nonsense never ends.
Both riders were paid well for their services.
End of story.

Leave it to California and the CHRB.

[Someday Silent]

I think it's not a bad idea. Trainers get stallion seasons/shares all the time. Jockeys are the ones risking life and limb every time they hit the track.

There probably should be stipulations though. Perhaps riders should be required to ride horses a certain number of races before becoming eligible for a stallion interest.

[rastajenk]

Or maybe it should remain a matter of private business decisions and not within the scope of regulatory power.

[JustRalph]

They’ll get this done 2 days before the last track in California closes


Of all the problems California racing has…….this is what they are debating?

[Frost king]

How does this help the jockeys at the lower end of the pay scale, who never get the chance to ride the top horses? The only way, they can make this stick, is in Cal-bred races, where the state offers Breeders Bonus money to the purses, and they make it a condition of entry to be eligible for the Bonus. As usual, the horsemen’s answer to everything, is take the money from Betting Public, to fix their problems. They want the money to come from non cashed tickets.

[Inner Dirt]

Originally Posted by rastajenk

Or maybe it should remain a matter of private business decisions and not within the scope of regulatory power.

Exactly, like in any private business, the owner should decide what employee bonuses he or she hands out. Sick of everything being about race these days.

[BarchCapper]

So are they going to restrict these races to keep out geldings?