NYRA to Administer Jockey Health Insurance

Facilitating new access to affordable health insurance coverage, the New York Racing Association Nov. 7 announced a formal agreement with the Jockeys' Guild that extends health care coverage to New York State Thoroughbred jockeys.

Approved by the New York State Gaming Commission, the NYRA will administer the new program to debut in late November.

As recommended by the New York Task Force on Jockey Health and Safety, included in the state's 2014-15 budget was legislation setting aside a dedicated funding stream for the program. This dedicated funding stream will fund the health insurance program, which is expected to cover 50-75 current and former jockeys.

To be eligible, jockeys must have ridden in at least 250 races at the NYRA tracks—Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, or Saratoga Race Course—during the prior year, or 150 races at Finger Lakes. The program also covers certain disabled and retired jockeys.

Thoroughbred jockeys in New York meeting these requirements will be eligible for reimbursements for their 2014 health expenses. Thereafter, in 2015 and beyond, Thoroughbred jockeys will purchase and be reimbursed for health insurance purchased on the exchange operated in New York under the new national health care program.

Until this law was passed earlier this year, there was no mechanism to fund health insurance for riders who are based in New York. New York now joins other states such as Delaware, California, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey offering financial assistance toward jockey health insurance.

"The New York Racing Association is proud to assist in facilitating health insurance options for New York jockeys," said Christopher Kay, chief executive officer and president of the NYRA. "Consistent with Governor Andrew M. Cuomo's goal of expanding health care insurance coverage to more New Yorkers, the New York Racing Association worked with the Governor and legislative leaders to further strengthen the safety net for our jockeys."

John Velazquez, Hall of Fame jockey and chairman of the Guild, reiterated that "the jockeys who regularly ride in New York deeply appreciate the work by Governor Cuomo, legislative leaders, Dean Skelos, Jeff Klein, and Shelly Silver, as well as NYRA Board member Anthony Bonomo to create a jockey health plan for qualifying New York riders."

Added Terry Meyocks, national manager of the Guild: "We look forward to continuing our working relationship with the racing industry in New York to assure that our riders have the safest environment possible."

The New York Task Force on Jockey Health and Safety was formed in 2013 to investigate issues involving the health and safety of jockeys racing in New York, and charged with issuing recommendations for jockey benefits and how they could best be provided through the resources of the racing industry.

Chairing the task force was NYRA board member Anthony J. Bonomo, with its members comprised of Velazquez, former jockey Ramon Dominguez, Alan Foreman, Nancy C. Kelly, and David P. Leno.