In a letter to membership dated June 7, the Jockeys’ Guild informed its membership that it will no longer provide insurance policies for riders at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, NJ, reports the Thoroughbred Daily News. The New Jersey Racing Commission instituted the strictest whip policy in the country this year, preventing riders from using the whip for any reason except for safety. The Jockeys’ Guild president Terry Meyocks has repeatedly voiced his opinion against the whip restriction in New Jersey.
“It is our opinion and belief that this regulation is extremely dangerous and is creating an even greater risk to both the equine and human athletes, including the potential for injury and/or loss of life to the jockeys and the horses,” the Guild said in its letter to members. “The increase of risk is thereby creating a greater exposure for the Jockeys’ Guild and the benefits that we provide to our members who are riding under such regulation.”
Insurance for riders at Monmouth will end on July 1. Currently, those benefits include: temporary disability, life insurance, and Accident, Death and Disability benefits. When insurance coverage from the Jockeys’ Guild ends, riders will have to take out their own insurance policies or accept the risks of racing without it.
Dennis Drazin, CEO and chairman of Monmouth Park operator Darby Development, called the Guild’s decision a “cheap shot.”
“This is an uncalled-for reaction to a rule that the racing commission put into effect and now they want to punish their own jockeys because they are riding,” Drazin said. “The comments I have heard are that some of the jocks are upset with the Guild and don’t feel that they are representing them well. Now they decide that they’re going to suspend the benefits that they provide to our jockeys. Frankly, if our jockeys wanted to, they have a very good lawsuit against the Guild.”
Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.
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