Lone Star Cancels July 14-15; Resumes Racing July 16

Lone Star Park canceled racing July 14-15 because jockeys there had been concerned they might not receive prompt off-track medical treatment from providers from an injury during racing, according to Terry Meyocks, president and CEO of the Jockeys' Guild. A jockeys' decision led to the cancellation Thursday, while the track decided to cancel Friday evening, Meyocks said.

Racing has been cleared to resume July 16 after the track, insurance company, and other entities provided the jockeys with "assurances that they will be taken care of if and when they're injured. A system will be in place and further enhanced that will be beneficial to everybody," Meyocks said.

The Texas track, operated by Global Gaming Solutions, has a $1 million on-track insurance policy for injured jockeys, Meyocks said, but that a rider injured there July 4, Carlos Montalvo, had not been able to secure until late this week an appointment with a specialist to get treated for three to four injuries. 

The on-track accident policy, underwritten by Chubb and purchased through John Unick via the Insurance Office of America, is the "exact policy" in place at many other U.S. racetracks, Unick told BloodHorse.

"It seems to be a regional situation in Dallas-Fort Worth," Unick said. "I don't know what's causing it, but the medical providers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area are all of a sudden uniting and being difficult insurance-wise."

Frustrations related to obtaining pre-authorization and pre-clearance to see specialists appear to be involved, Unick added.

"We don't know what it is," veteran jockey Stewart Elliott said of the challenges of lining up a medical specialist. "All we know as jockeys is that we need to know that we're okay before we go out there and risk our lives."

Meyocks said jockeys met with Lone Star Park management late Thursday afternoon, and the riders declined to ride that evening over concerns that they could receive prompt and accessible medical care. The track chose not to race Friday night because it was uncertain it could finalize its plans before horsemen needed to treat their horses with raceday medication, Elliott said.

"It's not what Lone Star did wrong or the insurance company," Meyocks said earlier on Friday morning. "It's the system that maybe is broken. It's unfortunate."

Tim Williams, an executive with Lone Star Park, declined comment Friday morning on behalf of Global Gaming.

Amy Cook, executive director of the Texas Racing Commission, did not return messages seeking comment.

"It's being addressed at the highest level, and Carlos, as any jockey, will be taken care of properly," Unick said. "Our reputation means everything with taking care of jockeys. He's in the best of care, but the system sometimes needs to be ironed out."

On Saturday, Lone Star Park stages the $300,000 Texas Turf Classic and three supporting stakes worth $150,000 apiece during one of its top racing days of the season. Its meet runs through July 24.

"I haven't spoken to many trainers on it, but everybody wants to race," Elliott said before Meyocks' announcement of racing resuming Saturday. "Everybody's frustrated when we don't race because it costs the owners money, and nobody makes any money sitting at home. I think management is doing everything they can. From what I can see, they're working very hard. They've been driving Carlos around, trying to get him straightened out. They're trying to fix this problem so it doesn't happen again."