Some Parx Riders Plan to Not Accept Mounts
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A dispute between jockeys and management at Parx Racing has led some riders to inform the track they will not accept mounts on or after March 19 unless Parx unconditionally guarantees they are covered by the Parx on-track insurance policy.
According to a March 16 statement from The Jockeys' Guild, more than 50 jockeys have notified Parx in writing of their intentions not to accept mounts unless the dispute is resolved. According to the guild, at issue is efforts by Parx to have riders sign a letter releasing the track from liability; though the agreement has been amended, the guild is advising members not to sign.
The Pennsylvania track has told riders who choose to not sign the agreement they will not be included in the track's catastrophic insurance coverage of up to $1 million for on-track racing injuries. The guild said riders who do not sign the agreement would lose that coverage after March 18.
The guild opposes tying the agreement to the catastrophic insurance.
The guild said national manager Terry Meyocks, counsel Mindy Coleman, and regional manager Herbie Rivera Jr. were present at Parx over the weekend of March 14-15 to advise jockeys of their rights with regard to the dispute and the options they have going forward.
The guild also spoke to some Parx horsemen to make them aware of the changes in insurance coverage and "the risks to the horsemen at Parx that would arise if jockeys were injured during training or racing without insurance to cover their injuries," the guild said in a release.
"The horsemen were advised that it was not in the best interest of racing to expose the track, owners, and/or trainers to lawsuits by injured jockeys who had no other alternative if there was any negligence in the conduct of any race or the training of any horse," the organization said.
"The guild has always recommended to its members, and all jockeys for that matter, that they should not ride at any racetrack where they are not covered by an adequate on-track accident policy," Meyocks said in a statement. "The million-dollar on-track accident policy Parx currently has in effect is a critical protection for all our members and is not open for negotiation not only at Parx but throughout the country. We fully support the individual decisions Parx jockeys have made to refuse to ride under stipulations being set forth by Parx management.
Coleman said the guild has attempt to have discussions with Parx management since last November about the waiver the track wanted all licensees to sign.
"However, Parx notified the guild and the jockey colony that as of March 19, 2015, it will no longer provide the current on-track insurance coverage for every jockey who rides at Parx, without the jockeys agreeing to waive certain rights," Coleman said. "The on-track insurance policies should not be used by racetracks as negotiating tools to force jockeys to waive any rights. The on-track accident policies are basic industry standards that have been in place for years."
Parx Racing COO Joe Wilson was out of the office March 16 and unavailable for comment.