Jockeys boycott accident-prone Metro Turf Club

RACEHORSE jockeys have gone on a virtual boycott of the new Metro Turf Club, refusing to ride unless repairs are done to the Batangas racetrack following a horrific fall that nearly claimed the life of young rider Leonardo T. Cuadra Jr. recently.

Philracom chair Angel Castaño confirmed this to the Inquirer yesterday, adding his agency is powerless to act on a plea by the Jockeys’ Association which has called for improvements to the track’s hard surface.

Cuadra fell from Think Again, who stumbled during a race last Nov. 2, and fell into coma. He has had two surgeries to remove blood clots from his brain and is reported to be showing progress.

The incident involving Cuadra was the third at Metro Turf, with the careers of Ramil Leona and Randy Lagrata all ending abruptly after falling from their respective mounts at the Malvar track.

Video clips of the accident have gone viral on the Internet. Cuadra is confined at Marcelo Hospital in Tanauan City.

The Philracom was forced to move the races scheduled at Metro Turf last Tuesday and Wednesday to San Lazaro Leisure Park in Carmona after the jockeys refused to ride, fearing for their safety.

The Jockeys’ Association met with Castaño earlier this week.

“They said that accidents like the one that happened (to Cuadra) have also happened in the other racetracks, but they were not this serious,” Castaño said.

“I understand them, because it’s their lives and limbs that are at stake here.”

Although it is the governing agency in the sport, the Philracom admits it is powerless to compel the jockeys to ride and force Metro Turf owners to make repairs to the track.

“If they continue to refuse to ride, we will just move them to the next scheduled race track,” Castaño said.