Orville Clarke, STAR Writer

Members of the United Racehorse Trainers' Association yesterday voted to withhold nominations on Wednesday for this Saturday's St Leger Day race meeting at Caymanas Park over the vexed question of a purse increase.

Dale Murphy, president of the United Trainers' Association, said stakeholders have not received a purse increase since 2009 and despite numerous proposals to Caymanas Track Limited (CTL), since November of last year, they are yet to receive a favourable response from the promoting company.

Following the vote among the 40-odd trainers present, the association's secretary Albert Chong was directed to hand deliver a letter after the meeting to the CEO of CTL, .0Cedric Stewart, informing him of their decision. The letter emphasised that nothing less than a 20 per cent purse increase would be acceptable.

Purse increase

Initially, a 40 per cent purse increase was proposed by the trainers, but Murphy stated that they have become frustrated as meeting after meeting with the CTL management has failed to satisfy their requests.

Murphy said following a May 29 meeting between the trainers and the management of CTL, a decision was taken by CTL on June 1 to write to the minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and Planning, Horace Dalley, outlining the plight of the stakeholders. The letter in part stated;

"CTL is cognisant that the request comes at a very challenging time for the Ministry, however, stakeholders in the racing industry are facing tremendous hardship having had no increase for some time now coupled with increasing overhead expenses are asking that a similar consideration be given to them for an increase in purses as was granted to the CTL staff this year".

Another meeting between Dalley and the CTL board on June 17 was scheduled to discuss the proposals, but the executive of the association said nothing tangible came out of that meeting.