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Jockeys’ Insurance Archive

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)

Posted in Jockeys' Insurance on April 21, 2005

A Job for Matt Hegarty

According to a report on Blood-Horse, the Jockeys’ Guild paid Matrix Capital Associates, the consulting firm owned by Guild president Dr. L. Wayne Gertmenian, $412,000 in consulting fees in 2003, an increase of 12% over 2002 when Matrix was paid $375,903. Matrix took over management of the Guild in 2001, and the organization has been the subject of much criticism since last fall for letting its catastrophic insurance policy for members lapse. The question I keep coming back to when I read these articles about Guild finances and Matrix is this: What is Matrix Capital Associates? It’s been a registered corporation in the state of California since 1982, but prior to 2001, the only mention I can find of it online, in Lexis-Nexis, or in any other database, is on Dr. Gertmenian’s curriculum vitae as the publisher of his “Economath Primer.” After 2001, the only company or organization that it appears in connection with is the Jockeys’ Guild. So, I wonder: In its 20+ years, what other organizations has Matrix Capital Associates done consulting work for? And what exactly is the consulting work it’s doing for the Jockeys’ Guild now?

Posted in Jockeys' Insurance on March 1, 2005

The Other Scandal

All’s been quiet on the jockeys’ insurance front for a few weeks now. Whatever happened to the committee that was supposed to offer recommendations on resolving the situation by the end of the year?
Related: The Jockeys’ Guild has agreed to allow the California Horse Racing Board to conduct a limited audit and examine its books. (Daily Racing Form)
Also: The Guild may have some competition in California. A group of jockeys, led by Ron Warren Jr., concerned about the Guild’s management, have formed their own organization to represent riders in the state. (Sports Business Journal)

Posted in Jockeys' Insurance on February 1, 2005

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)

Posted in Jockeys' Insurance on December 21, 2004