Churchill bans jockeys over insurance protest

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.