JC / Railbird

Jockeys’ Insurance Archive

More and More Evident

Frustrated and anxious over the issue of adequate insurance coverage, “Many jockeys are now venting their anger toward racetrack officials or the TRA,” writes Ray Paulick. But their ire may be misdirected: “It’s becoming more and more evident to me that the leadership of the Jockeys’ Guild may have hung the organization’s own members out to dry.” (Blood-Horse)
Related: “Questions about Guild cash” (Daily Racing Form)

Posted in Jockeys' Insurance on November 17, 2004

Dispute Developments

The 32-member NTRA panel on jockey insurance has been named. (Thoroughbred Times)
Also: “Eddie King, a rider based in New Jersey, said on Monday that he was removed as treasurer of the Jockeys’ Guild and expelled from the organization on Nov. 7 after he persisted in asking questions about the Guild’s finances.” The Guild management, which allowed a $1 million catastrophic insurance policy purchased for jockeys to lapse in 2002, faces scrutiny and calls for audits from several quarters as the issue of jockey insurance roils on. (Daily Racing Form)
Related: The insurance dispute is a “black eye” for the sport. (Pasadena Star-News)

Posted in Jockeys' Insurance on November 16, 2004

And the Dispute Goes On

Steve Dilbeck is on the side of the jockeys in the insurance dispute: “Everyone at least claims to agree jockeys need accident insurance. After that, it’s everyone for themselves. Particularly the jockeys.
“Those would be the ones who put their lives in jeopardy with every mount. Who are guaranteed to be injured several times a year. Phenomenal athletes who risk serious head and neck injuries.
“And without them, there’s no show.
“Track owners should send limos to get them every day. Should bathe them in luxury. Should boast about the lavish insurance they’re provided.
“Instead, they want jockeys to pay for it themselves. Or back a state workers’ compensation program that’s supported by already overburdened horse owners and trainers. Or they want to talk about it some more.
“This is 2004 … and they still want to talk?” (Lexington Herald-Leader)
More: “Jockeys’ boycott at Churchill Downs over insurance costs gives replacements such as Tammy Fox a chance to pursue a passion” (LA Times); “Little guys trampled in insurance dispute” (Star-Telegram); and Kevin Modesti says insurance issue is a test for the whole sport (LA Daily News).

Posted in Jockeys' Insurance on November 12, 2004

More on Jockeys’ Dispute

“Tensions in the jockey-insurance controversy at Churchill Downs were on display Wednesday when a group of about 10 banned riders walked onto track property to demand the return of their equipment and other personal effects on the first racing day that they were barred from competition. Churchill personnel ultimately complied, but not before several of the jockeys, led by Shane Sellers, squared off verbally with track security and Louisville Metro Police officers. There were no arrests in the incident,which lasted about 25 minutes.” (Daily Racing Form)
More: “No one really seemed to care too much about unfamiliar faces on the horses” (Lexington Herald- Leader) and “Some unfamiliar names ride after 15 jockeys are barred for protesting insurance coverage” (LA Times).
Related: “It’s goodbye Kentucky, hello New York for Rafael Bejarano, the nation’s winningest jockey, who’s moving his tack to Aqueduct after he quit riding at Churchill Downs last weekend over an insurance dispute. Bejarano will ride Colita for trainer Todd Pletcher in Saturday’s Stuyvesant Handicap at the Big A, then begin riding here on a daily basis Nov. 20, according to his new agent, Joaquin ‘Joe’ Ferrer, who said Bejarano plans to ride the NYRA circuit throughout 2005.” (New York Post)

Posted in Jockeys' Insurance on November 11, 2004