OWNERS and trainers are coming up with a plan to smash an alleged jockey’s ring they suspect is involved in “fixing” races.

They want to revert to the old system of declaring jockeys one hour before post time so as to reduce the time that unscrupulous riders may have to “plan” races.

Trainers claim to be at the mercy of jockeys under the current system.

In it, riders have to be declared at the same time with the entry of horses (Wednesday before races), while trainers have until the following day (9 a.m.) to request any change.

Trainers were due to discuss this at length at a meeting on Wednesday (June 5).

They, along with owners are said to be not happy with the riding tactics employed by certain jockeys, whom they claim, “duck” their mounts.

Rumours of a jockeys ring have been making the rounds for some years but with no supporting evidence.

Over the past weeks, there have been complaints from owners, trainers and punters about the sudden reversal of form of some horses.

It has prompted suspicion among them that certain jockeys are linked to a gambling ring and are riding to manipulate the outcome of races.

The Stewards’ hands are tied in dealing with the “strange” riding tactics employed by some jockeys, one trainer said.

They are thus forced to accept the explanation given for the indifferent performance of mounts.

Among the other issues that were supposed to have been discussed were the use of “jar-chalks”, the claiming system and the favoured handling of some among them.

They call for jar-chalks (a special shoe) for horses to use when the turf track is soft (as addressed in last week’s column).

Secondly, trainers want to replace Claiming races with a rating (handicap) system, charging that the claiming system is being abused.

Further, they call for a proper system to be used in the loading of horses in the starting gates. Some trainers say preferential treatment is given to certain trainers to allow their grooms to go down to the start to assist in the loading of their horses.