What Jockeys Want
“While the Thoroughbred Racing Associations awaits an answer from the Jockeys’ Guild about how the $2.2-million in annual payments meant for catastrophic injury insurance has been spent, the Guild has issued a sweeping list of demands from the tracks … $2-million a month from the TRA, and corresponding amounts from tracks that are not members of the organization, for media rights … Provision by the tracks of medical insurance of at least $1-million per accident in states without workers’ compensation … Guaranteed riding fees of 1% of the average purse paid … Educational programs at each track in English and Spanish … Guaranteed provision of a masseuse, a board certified physician, and X-ray equipment at each track … Veto power over any jockey’s decision to wear logos or advertisement on his or her pants …. Recognition of the Guild as “the exclusive labor representative of all jockeys” at each track.” In exhange for meeting these demands, the Guild promises that it will not “cause, authorize, participate in, sanction, or encourage any strike or work stoppage for any reason except safety.” (Thoroughbred Times)
