House Committee Opens Inquiry
Jockeys’ Guild officials have dodged questions since last fall over everything from the organization’s finances to its insurance policies to Guild president Wayne Gertmenian’s resume. Finally, some answers may be forthcoming:
Whitfield was named chairman of the Oversight and Investigations subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee in January and is investigating the issue of insurance for jockeys and backstretch workers. The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that Whitfield hopes to hold hearings in three months and is entertaining the possibility of federal legislation to solve the insurance problem.
Related: The Jockeys’ Guild agreed that members would not boycott at Churchill Downs-owned tracks in exchange for Churchill dropping its injunction against the organization; Churchill also announced that it secured $1 million in insurance for riders at its tracks. (Blood-Horse)
