The primary race on Aqueduct Racetrack’s Dec. 15 card was delayed by 14 minutes following an worker standing dispute.
The delay was first reported by the Each day Racing Kind.
Fernando Rivera, a part-time valet/laundry individual, was instructed to not are available in to work Sunday. Lengthy-time valet Harry Rice mentioned the instruction got here from the New York Racing Affiliation and that Rivera is near finishing sufficient hours to hitch the union, making him eligible for advantages.
“They refuse to let him be part of the union and he is attending to the correct amount of days (to qualify),” Rice instructed DRF.
Valets refused to saddle the primary race area. The jockeys stood in solidarity and refused to experience till the scenario was resolved, with jockey Kendrick Carmouche stating that everybody within the jocks’ room is a household.Join BloodHorse Each day
The valets agreed to work Sunday after NYRA agreed to name Rivera into work, however need the scenario additional rectified by the point racing returns to Aqueduct Dec. 27.
NYRA and Union 814, which represents the valets, have operated with no contract since Dec. 2023.
“NYRA has negotiated in good religion with Native 814 for the final yr to achieve a brand new contract with the jockey valets,” NYRA spokesman Pat McKenna instructed DRF. “In the present day’s delayed begin was the results of an motion taken by the jockey valets to impression reside racing at Aqueduct. As at all times, NYRA is concentrated on reaching an settlement quite than useless provocations that would negatively have an effect on racing members and the wagering public.”
