The first race on Aqueduct Racetrack's Dec. 15 card was delayed by 14 minutes following an employee status dispute.
The delay was first reported by the Daily Racing Form.
Fernando Rivera, a part-time valet/laundry person, was told not to come in to work Sunday. Long-time valet Harry Rice said the instruction came from the New York Racing Association and that Rivera is close to completing enough hours to join the union, making him eligible for benefits.
"They refuse to let him join the union and he's getting to the right amount of days (to qualify)," Rice told DRF.
Valets refused to saddle the first race field. The jockeys stood in solidarity and refused to ride until the situation was resolved, with jockey Kendrick Carmouche stating that everyone in the jocks' room is a family.
The valets agreed to work Sunday after NYRA agreed to call Rivera into work, but want the situation further rectified by the time racing returns to Aqueduct Dec. 27.
NYRA and Union 814, which represents the valets, have operated without a contract since Dec. 2023.
"NYRA has negotiated in good faith with Local 814 for the last year to reach a new contract with the jockey valets," NYRA spokesman Pat McKenna told DRF. "Today's delayed start was the result of an action taken by the jockey valets to impact live racing at Aqueduct. As always, NYRA is focused on reaching an agreement rather than needless provocations that could negatively affect racing participants and the wagering public."
