Churchill bans jockeys over insurance
protest
Churchill Downs ejected a group of jockeys from the grounds
Sunday evening and has banned them for the rest of the fall meet
after those riders refused to ride this week due to concerns over
insurance coverage. The riders prohibited from appearing on the
grounds through the conclusion of the meet include Rafael
Bejarano, Robby Albarado, Mark Guidry, Calvin Borel, Willie
Martinez and Craig Perret.
Sunday’s action came after several jockeys declined to accept
mounts for Wednesday’s card because of dissatisfaction over the
track’s response to their rising insurance costs. Churchill Downs
President Steve Sexton met with riders Sunday evening and sought
a commitment from them to participate in Thursday’s races. He
told jockeys that those who refused to do so would be ejected from
the track for the remaining 14 days of the 21-day meet.
“We believe the concern expressed by the jockeys over
insurance coverage is a legitimate issue, but we do not agree
with their approach to addressing that concern,” Sexton said.
“The issue of health coverage for jockeys is one that
demands and deserves industry-wide study and action. We are eager
to participate in the effort to address that problem, but it
would not be responsible for Churchill Downs to agree to any knee-jerk
attempt to reach a solution over the space of a few days.”
The track received commitments from at least nine jockeys,
including all-time leading Churchill rider Pat Day, to ride on
Wednesday and Thursday and throughout the final 14 days of the
meet. Track officials are expected to meet with other jockeys
before entries are taken Tuesday morning for Thursday.
“Jockeys are independent contractors and are not
employees of Churchill Downs or any other racetrack,” Sexton
said. “Independent contractors in all other phases of the
economy must accept the cost of their insurance coverage. We
recognize the risks faced by our riders each day, but this is not
an issue that Churchill Downs or any other track can settle. It
is an important issue that requires the attention of the entire
industry.”
Sexton pointed out that Churchill provides health coverage of
up to $100,000 to all riders during each racing day, although the
track is not required to do so.