Jockey Groups Concerned About Parx Waiver

Representatives of a local riders' group and the Jockeys' Guild plan to meet with officials from Parx Racing the morning of Nov. 7, to discuss a waiver riders say the track has asked jockeys to sign as a condition of riding at the track.

Tony Black, who represents a local group of about 30 riders, said he made a mistake in signing the agreement that he characterized as a "waiver and release." Black has advised his members to not sign the agreement until they meet with legal counsel.

The Jockeys' Guild, which has about 15 members who ride at Parx, sent a letter Nov. 6 to Parx chairman Robert Green saying that its members would not sign the waiver. The letter, from Guild legal counsel Mindy Coleman, said state regulations forbid the track from requiring riders to sign the waiver as a condition of riding at the Bensalem, Pa., track.

The Guild said riders who sign the document would release the track from any and all claims by a jockey. The form would require any claims to go through arbitration, waives the right of jockeys to participate in class-action litigation against the track, limits the authority of any arbitrator to impose damages, and provides the track with the absolute right to remove any rider from its track.

Track officials could not be reached Nov. 6, for comment. Black, Guild national manager Terry Meyocks, and track officials are scheduled to meet at 10:30 a.m. Friday to discuss the waiver.

Black said the waiver took shape after a meeting between horsemen and track officials. He said jockeys were not represented at those meetings.

"They didn't include us in anything," Black said. "The track had the attitude that the horsemen negotiated it; but we're not the horsemen."

Black said he made a mistake in signing the agreement but has since told jockeys not to sign the waiver.

"I made a mistake," Black said. "Then they brought it to the jock's room yesterday (Nov. 5) and I told the riders to do what they want but they should take it home and show it to an attorney. I don't think an attorney will advise them to sign it. I made a mistake and signed it."

Meyocks said the Guild is concerned about the waiver.

"We'll do whatever we have to do to protect the rights of our members," Meyocks said.