The purpose of this amendment is to modernize Alberta's jockey-agent rules and provide greater flexibility in the management of riding engagements.
Alberta operates with a relatively limited pool of jockey agents. Allowing one licensed agent to represent up to four jockeys would provide riders with greater access to professional representation while reducing the need for individual jockeys to manage their own riding engagements.
No commentsThe concern is allowing a racing program to proceed when a significant number of horses have been scratched due to track or weather conditions.
Large numbers of weather-related scratches can substantially reduce field sizes and negatively affect the overall quality and wagering appeal of a racing program. As the HBPA and the horsepeople it represents generate important revenues from pari-mutuel wagering, proceeding with a significantly reduced race card can negatively impact wagering handle and the revenues generated for the industry.
Alberta's current riding crop rule limits a jockey to using the riding crop a maximum of six times during a race. This restriction has created significant challenges for Alberta jockeys and has resulted in a disproportionately high number of riding crop violations compared with other Canadian racing jurisdictions.
What specific problems or concerns are involved in this issue? Trainers or grooms not reporting directly to test barn after a race when called by Judges/Stewards Board This is a rule that I currently enforced by rule 286g Conduct prejudicial to the best interests of horse racing. Contamination, horses need to report directly to test barn to produce a sample.
