TOC Approves Changes to Address Workers' Comp Increase

The Thoroughbred Owners of California informed members Dec. 28 it has voted to increase guaranteed participation purses by $6 per start to offset a matching increase in per-start workers' compensation fees in 2019.

In a release, the TOC said steadily increasing statewide workers' compensation costs have made it necessary to increase the per-start fee from $100 to $106 beginning Jan. 1 at Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields.

To offset the 6% per-start increase to owners, the TOC board voted unanimously to increase guaranteed participation purses by $6 per start. At the request of Golden Gate Fields, the board also unanimously agreed to increase the participation purse at that track from $225 to $300 per start to include increased costs for third-party Lasix administration and jockey fees.

The per-start fee will continue to be automatically deducted from owners' paymaster accounts every time they start a horse.

Owners of horses competing in all races in which their horses do not finish first through fifth are entitled to a guaranteed participation purse. Horses finishing sixth and beyond (and to fifth-place finishers when their share of purse money is less than the corresponding guaranteed participation purse) shall be paid as follows, beginning Jan. 1:

•    $351 per start in the South

•    $300 per start at Golden Gate Fields

The California Thoroughbred Business League, a group comprised of racing associations, horsemen's organizations, and fairs, is responsible for overseeing funds for providing workers' compensation insurance relief to horsemen.

Working with Post Time Self Insurance Group, which handles workers' compensation for Thoroughbred horsemen, the CTBL has been dealing with the issue of steadily increasing statewide workers' compensation rates. The cost of the 2019 program for Thoroughbreds is estimated to be in excess of $13.7 million—approximately a 3% increase over 2018.