Patrick Davis. Guiding trainers
In a joint statement issued recently, racing operators Gold Circle and Phumelela have come out strongly as major stakeholders in the sport and have urged all trainers countrywide to get their houses in order as regards their groom personnel.
This move follows recent threats ahead of two of South Africa’s premier horseracing events. Both the Gr1 Sansui Summer Cup and the J&B Met faced rumours of disruption, which thankfully did not materialise.
In a serious request for trainers to engage this strategic segment, the statement reiterates the fact that the grooms are employed by individual trainers and that any issues relating to their employment remain the responsibility of the trainer.
The statement was issued by Phumelela Racing Executive Patrick Davis and Gold Circle’s Racing & Marketing Executive Graeme Hawkins, and represents a step in the right direction on an issue that has been largely neglected by the industry.
In a groundbreaking move, the statement is clear:
Graeme Hawkins. Adding Gold Circle’s voice
“We fully appreciate the important role grooms play in your business and our sport as a whole and we appeal to you to ensure that your staff are well taken care of and fairly remunerated. The NHA will shortly be incorporating a ‘Code of Conduct’ relating to trainers’ employment of grooms into their rules. This will need to be strictly adhered to by all licenced trainers going forward and any transgressions will impact on the issuing / renewal of these licences. “
The statement makes reference to misinformation out in the public domain regarding the situation, and in particular amongst the grooms themselves.
The operators urge trainers to communicate and engage with staff to clarify the position.
This in particular refers to:
- The fact that grooms are employed by Trainers. They are not employed by the Racing Operators.
- That all aspects of their employment, in particularly pay, working hours, annual leave, sick leave, complaints and any problems must be discussed directly with the trainer.
The Code of Conduct, which will soon be published by the National Horseracing Authority, is eagerly awaited and will detail fair employment practice guidelines for all Grooms in horseracing.
At this point in time, grooms are not licenced by the NHA like trainers and assistant trainers are and it will be interesting to see how the matter develops.
