Safety Issues at Center of Guild Assembly

The Jockeys’ Guild will continue efforts to raise awareness and develop the best treatment protocol for riders who suffer head injuries when it meets for its annual assembly Feb. 15-17 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

Since 2013 the Guild has worked with The Jockey Club to perform baseline testing on riders in the Jockey Health Information System. When a head injury occurs, baseline testing serves as a physicians’ tool to determine if the rider has suffered a concussion.

A session on Tuesday, Feb. 16 led by Dr. Carl Mattacola, of the Rehabilitation Sciences Doctoral Program at the University of Kentucky, will look at developing a concussion model in horse racing.

Jockeys’ Guild national manager Terry Meyocks said more urgency is needed from regulators and racetracks to put protocols in place to immediately evaluate riders for concussion when a spill occurs at the track. He said the Guild has made strides working with The Jockey Club and with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Safety and Integrity Alliance but now that work needs to be put in place at the track level.

“We can’t get a protocol in place," Meyocks said. "Somebody has to do something.”

There is a growing need to readily evaluate head injuries as riders are seeing more concussions today, Meyocks said.

“We’re seeing more concussions and head injuries. These helmets are based on preventing catastrophic injuries—and they’re doing that; they’re saving lives,” Meyocks said. “But at the same time we’re seeing more head injuries and concussions.”

Also Tuesday, Paul Struthers, executive director of the Professional Jockeys Association in the United Kingdom will talk about rider safety in England. The Guild has been involved with the international Conference for Health, Safety and Welfare of Jockeys the past several years and in attending those meetings, it has become obvious to Meyocks that the U.S. is behind other countries.

Meyocks hopes that riders can build awareness to help the industry move forward on safety issues.

“We’re so far behind,” Meyocks said. “Now the U.S. is totally different than Britain, Australia and other countries. The lack of a central authority makes it difficult (to quickly implement rider safety changes). We need to build more awareness.

“I think it’s important for our riders to realize that, ‘Hey, we are so far behind.’ The industry needs to catch up and at the end of the day, it won’t just help the jockeys but also the racetracks with their workers’ comp and insurance issues.”

A panel discussion Tuesday will feature retired riders Angel Cordero, Jr., Laffit Pincay, Jr., G.R. Carter, Ramon Dominguez, and Casey Lambert as well as active rider John Velazquez discussing preparing for life after riding. The panel will be moderated by Mike Penna. Meyocks notes that those riders offer a wide range of experience that should prove beneficial to Guild members.

Sessions on Wednesday, Feb. 17 will include track updates from the Guild’s regional managers, an update on exchange wagering, a presentation on financial planning, and a dsicussion by Struthers on “Jockey Support in the United Kingdom.”

“All Guild members should attend this assembly,” said Velazquez, Guild chairman. “We have to make our industry safer and plan for our future. It is vital for all members to join us and provide feedback on the issues and future priorities of the Guild.”

A welcome cocktail party is planned for Monday evening, Feb. 15 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.

The annual awards banquet will be Tuesday evening at Gulfstream Park. That evening, the Jockeys’ Guild will present the Laffit Pincay Jr. Award to Lambert, the Jacky Martin Award to Gilbert Ortiz, and the Eddie Arcaro Award to Brian Elmore, vice president of racing for Centaur Gaming. The second annual Courage Award will be presented to legendary jockey Ron Turcotte in recognition of the courage and determination of the more than 60 riders who depend on the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund, which in 2016 is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Two new awards will be presented by JockeyTalk360, the Most Improved Rider for 2015 to Florent Geroux and The Comeback Rider of the Year to T.D. Houghton.

Elmore, who has announced his retirement effective Feb. 26, is being honored for his efforts behind the Jockeys & Jeans charity event.