NTRA insurance panel to meet on Monday

NTRA insurance panel to meet on Monday

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) Jockeys'

Medical Insurance Panel will hold its first meeting on Monday.

The panel will review current issues regarding medical insurance

coverage for jockeys in various jurisdictions.

The group has retained the services of Anthony B. Byergo, an

employment law expert for Armstrong Teasdale based in St. Louis,

Missouri.

"Our members -- representing racetracks, owners, breeders

and other horsemen -- have asked us to look into this issue,"

NTRA Commissioner D.G. Van Clief Jr. said. "It's a national

issue deserving of a national solution that can only come about

through input and involvement by all of the parties involved."

Keith Chamblin, senior vice president of marketing and

industry relations for the NTRA, will serve as chairman of the

group.

The members of the panel (in alphabetical order) are: Don Amos

(Magna Entertainment Corp.), Greg Avioli (NTRA), Jerry Bailey (jockey),

Vicki Baumgardner (Churchill Downs Inc.), Paul J. Bowlinger (North

American Pari-Mutuel Regulators Association), Donna Brothers (retired

jockey), Susan Bunning (Kentucky HBPA), Chamblin, Drew Couto (Thoroughbred

Owners of California), Pat Day (jockey), Robert Elliston (Turfway

Park), Alan Foreman (Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association), Randy

Fozzard (Turf Paradise), Jim Gallagher (Kentucky Horse Racing

Authority), Darrell Haire (Jockey's Guild), Corey Johnsen (Lone

Star Park), Jack Knowlton (owner), Richard Mandella (trainer),

Dan Metzger (Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association), Terry

Meyocks (NTRA), Linda Mills (Florida HBPA), John Milward (Palmer

& Cay), Eddie Plesa Jr. (trainer), Lonny Powell (Association

of Racing Commissioners International), John Roark (National HBPA),

Chris Scherf (Thoroughbred Racing Association), Steve Sexton (Churchill

Downs), David Switzer (Kentucky Thoroughbred Association), John

Unick (Maroevich, O'Shea and Coghlan), Van Clief, Richard

Violette (New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association and

trainer) and John Ward (Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders

Association and trainer).