In a sport as rich as racing, that a journeyman jockey like Gary Birzer can be paralyzed in an on-track accident and then find himself burdened with more than $500,000 in medical bills is a scandal. What’s even more scandalous is that the Jockeys’ Guild, the very organization charged with protecting and representing Birzer and his fellow riders, has betrayed its members for the enrichment of one man and his family and cronies — at least, that’s the conclusion I came to after reading the testimony given at Tuesday’s congressional hearing on jockeys’ insurance. Alan at Left at the Gate has all the links and all the damning revelations from yesterday’s hearing.
Posted by JC in Jockeys' Insurance on 10/19/2005 @ 10:00 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
Another hearing at the Massachusetts State House was held on Tuesday to address a slots and simulcasting bill passed by the Senate on October 6. Representative Dan Bosley, longtime gambling foe, chaired the hearing and stuck to his position that any good that might come from slots would be outweighed by the bad. He did, however, promise to bring the matter to a House vote before the legislative session ends on November 15 (Lowell Sun).
Posted by JC in State Issues on 10/19/2005 @ 9:15 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
Posting has been light lately and may be so for a couple more days. I should be back Wednesday with some comments on the congressional hearing into jockeys’ insurance and a Breeders’ Cup preview …
Posted by JC in Miscellany on 10/16/2005 @ 10:45 pm / Follow @railbird on Twitter
