Racing: Lads press for early end to pay standstill

BRITAIN'S stable-staff, without a rise in minimum-wage rates last year, are eagerly anticipating the result of pay talks on Wednesday. Bill Adams, the national secretary of the Stable Lads' Association which negotiates with the trainers, said yesterday: 'We met with the trainers before Christmas but this is the crucial meeting. I am quietly optimistic that we will be offered an acceptable deal but there will be some hard talking.'

Trainers refused even a nominal increase to minimum wages in 1993 because of difficult economic conditions and the minimum wage for stable- staff doing a 40-hour week remained at pounds 147.26 for experienced staff and pounds 129.46 for their younger colleagues.