The Jockeys' Guild and its Board of Directors released a statement Tuesday underscoring that the organization has taken the position that the United States should remain under the Category 2 approach for adjudicating potential interference during Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing.
The press release was issued in advance of a panel discussion at Tuesday's Global Symposium on Racing hosted by the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) in Tucson titled “Embracing Change: Are We Ready to Adopt Category 1 Rules In the US?”
The Guild also noted that it plans to “voice opposition” to proposed modifications to that standard that will be up for discussion during the Association of Racing Commissioners International Model Rules Committee meeting Dec. 7.
“While considering this decision, the Guild considered the safety of both the human and equine athletes, as well as fairness for all parties involved,” the release stated. “The Category 2 method provides Stewards with the authority to disqualify a horse if, in their opinion, it interfered with other horses, regardless of whether the interference was accidental, willful, or the result of careless riding.
“Based on experience, the Guild believes that Category 2 provides for some additional safety protections for the riders,” the release continued. “By giving the Stewards the ability to disqualify the horse which has caused the interference, regardless of where the horse finished, it will serve as a deterrent to unsafe riding.
“We, as an industry, have a responsibility to assure safety for both the horses and the jockeys. It is unreasonable to create a racing environment that is potentially going to lead to more hazardous riding styles,” the release stated.
“Additionally, with regards to the fairness of such rules, while Category 1 often protects 'the best horse,' Category 2 rules enable strong advocacy on behalf of all horses and jockeys who suffered interference,” the release stated.
“This is achieved by ensuring that the interferer is placed behind all of the horses who suffered the interference, both directly and indirectly. Using this method provides a safeguard against horses having their finishing position compromised as a result of the interference, and in turn, provides a fairer playing field to all participants, as opposed to just the 'best horse'…
“It should be noted, with the exception of Oklahoma, no other racing jurisdiction in the United States has adopted Category 1 method,” the Guild's release stated.
A pre-symposium summary of the RTIP panel discussion stated that “The conflict of equity and fairness versus heightened consistency in decisions is the heart of the conundrum that surrounds the disqualification policies between Categories 1 and 2.
“While most international racing jurisdictions have shifted away from Category 2, which requires the demotion of a horse for consequential interference if the sufferer of the interference loses a placing, North America remains reluctant to embrace this global approach which only demotes horses when the sufferer would have beaten the interferer.
“In the age of the growing global wagering market, it is imperative for our racing companies to revisit this issue as our domestic bettors have already embraced such practices at events like Ascot, and our new international customers are already accepting of Category 1 disqualification policies,” the RTIP summarized prior to its panel discussion.
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