Health Assurances Made, Lone Star to Resume Racing

Lone Star Park canceled racing July 14-15 but is scheduled to resume July 16 after jockeys there received assurances from the track and the insurance company that they would receive prompt off-track medical treatment from providers if they have an injury during racing, according to Terry Meyocks, president and CEO of the Jockeys' Guild. A jockeys' decision led to a cancellation Thursday night, while the track decided to cancel Friday evening, Meyocks said.

Racing has been cleared to resume Saturday, he added, with a system in place that is "enhanced that will be beneficial to everybody."

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 were involved, Unick added.

"All we know as jockeys is that we need to know that we're okay before we go out there and risk our lives," veteran jockey Stewart Elliott said.

Meyocks said jockeys met with Lone Star Park management late Thursday afternoon, and the riders declined to ride that evening over their concerns. The track chose not to race Friday night because it was uncertain it could finalize plans before raceday horses received medication, Elliott said. Many horses are treated with the diuretic Lasix about four hours before a race.

"It's not what Lone Star did wrong or the insurance company," Meyocks said earlier Friday. "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."