Progress made in stalls dispute

BHB warns over further boycotts

Racecourse chiefs are hopeful of a breakthrough after talks aimed at ending the stall handlers' dispute.

Jockeys boycotted the Arena-owned Wolverhampton racecourse on Monday as the row over new staff escalated.

Arena Leisure says its in-house team has been subject to threats of physical violence.

But Arena racing director Ian Renton said on Friday: "After highly constructive talks, significant progress has been made."

Renton met Jockeys' Association chief John Blake and Mick Both of RaceTech on Friday morning

"Arena are committed to working to maintain the expertise of the current workforce of stalls handlers and will welcome approaches to discuss employment opportunities during the winter months," said Renton.

"We will be working closely with all parties to try to ensure that the employment packages on offer from both Racetech and Arena are sufficient to encourage the retention of the experienced stalls handlers within the racing industry."

Arena introduced its own in-house workers to get horses into the stalls, replacing the RaceTech team which operates at most other courses.

The new in-house Arena team made a successful start at Wolverhampton on Monday - despite working in the glare of the jockeys' boycott over safety and the long-term future of RaceTech stalls handlers.

While progress is being made in finding some common ground to end the dispute, Blake refused to rule out the possibility of a further jockeys' boycott this season.

He added: "I'm not in a position to say that wouldn't be the case but I would say we've made some positive moves in what has become a difficult and very fragmented situation

"There isn't a magic wand to wave over the issue but from our point of view, the safety and potential losses of RaceTech employees are still the major issues.

"It's very much a positive work in progress which involves compromise on all parts."