Churchill Downs Inc. (CDI) announced Tuesday that it is seeking to obtain $1
million in on-track medical insurance coverage for the jockeys who compete at
all seven CDI-owned and/or operated racetracks. CDI is currently discussing the
matter with a leading insurance provider to underwrite the on-track medical
insurance coverage as well as disability coverage for jockeys at its racetracks
in Kentucky, Florida, Illinois, Indiana and Louisiana. Jockeys at CDI’s
Hollywood Park in California are already covered by workers’ compensation
insurance.
The new coverage would replace the on-track medical coverage CDI tracks
currently purchase through an arrangement with the Thoroughbred Racing
Associations.
“We are ready to open dialogues with horsemen and jockey representatives in
the states where we operate to determine a long-range funding mechanism for this
added coverage,” CDI’s Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Andrew G.
Skehan said in a release. “We believe it is important for all industry
participants with a stake in this discussion to share responsibility for the
ultimate solution.
“We are taking these steps to ensure that out industry’s human athletes have
adequate insurance coverage. CDI racetracks have provided on-track medical
insurance coverage for jockeys even after the jockeys’ own trade organization
allowed its supplemental coverage for riders to lapse years ago. We are taking
this action to protect the best interests of the riders who ply their trade at
our facilities, and we look forward to talking with them and our horsemen about
the most equitable way to distribute the cost of this additional coverage.”