RACEHORSE trainers are turning to CARICOM countries and South America in search of jockeys, exercise lads and grooms to deal with the severe shortage of these horsemen.

The Trainers Association met last week to discuss the problem and has appointed Barbadian owner/veterinarian Dr. Anthony Griffith to explore ways under the Caribbean Single Market (CSM) to bring in grooms and exercise lads from other Caricom countries like Guyana, Barbados and Jamaica.

Dr. Griffith said he has already held discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the matter.

He said the grooms would have to get the necessary clearance from their countries which are part of the CSM.

He has not envisaged any problem since these categories of workers fall under Sportsmen in the CSM.

Dr. Griffith said there is a dire need for more exercise lads and grooms to address this critical shortage.

Owner/trainer HAROLD CHADEE (right) leads
Honour Bound into winners’ enclosure with
jockey RAJPAUL RAJKUMAR in the saddle.

Owner ALLAN MADOO (right) and his mother
SHEILA MADOO, leads Kato into the winners’
enclosure with winning jockey NELA
MOHAMMED.

Trainers say most of the experienced grooms are employed with top stables, while a number of others have gone to North America.

Grooms and exercise lads are in great demand in Canada.

Every summer a number of jockeys leave to ride at various tracks in Canada.

Currently some of the top jockeys are riding in Canada and the United States.

Top jockey Brian Harding has landed a contract to ride in Jamaica and has been riding there since last year.

He won the jockey championship in Jamaica and is one of the leading jockeys again this year.

One owner, Merlin Samlalsingh was forced to bring down jockey Y. Garcia from Venezuela to ride his horses. Two other Venezuelan jockeys recently came here to ride.

Trainers experienced problems to get riders to exercise their horses.

On Sunday morning, horses under saddle walk around for long periods in the parade area in the paddock waiting for an exercise lad.

Trainers say some jockeys pick and choose horses they want to exercise. But the jockeys claim that when they exercise horses for certain trainers they are not given a mount on race day.

One trainer said when he asks a rider to exercise his horse the reply is “ah have one coming.”