Attention Manley, Jackson and all the little Gnomes

[GinaIsWild]

Put this in your pipe and smoke it. Stop threatening the industry and pay your own insurance.

Philly jockeys can't join union
By MATT HEGARTY

http://www.drf.com/news/article/81629.html

[Honu]

This situation is tough , I didnt think that jocks could be unionized because they have tried before and failed but I guess they had to do something if they didnt want to be in the Guild anymore.

I dont get what the big deal is about increasing on sight insurance policy for accidents , Im sure the owner of the race track has a really nice fat insurance policy covering a patron falling down the steps and I bet it doesnt have a 100,000.00 or even 500,000.00 ceiling on it .
While I agree that jockeys should pay for their own health insurance just like the rest of America , I dont agree that accident insurance should be limited.
The way it is now there are a whole lot of people that are leaving themselves wide open for lawsuits when a rider gets hurt and the accident insurance doesnt cover all the expenses.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Honu

This situation is tough , I didnt think that jocks could be unionized because they have tried before and failed but I guess they had to do something if they didnt want to be in the Guild anymore.

I dont get what the big deal is about increasing on sight insurance policy for accidents , Im sure the owner of the race track has a really nice fat insurance policy covering a patron falling down the steps and I bet it doesnt have a 100,000.00 or even 500,000.00 ceiling on it .
While I agree that jockeys should pay for their own health insurance just like the rest of America , I dont agree that accident insurance should be limited.
The way it is now there are a whole lot of people that are leaving themselves wide open for lawsuits when a rider gets hurt and the accident insurance doesnt cover all the expenses.

Self-employed Americans pay for their own insurance. Most insured people don't pay for their own insurance; their employer does.

The problem is, insurance companies, like any other business, are in it to make money, and they don't make money when they have to pay out claims. In the case of jockeys, it's not a case of if they'll be injured; it's when, how often and how badly. So they aren't an ideal insurance risk. Why would a company want to insure someone they won't make money off of? I can't see how the average workingman jockey could possibly afford the premiums for insurance with a high enough ceiling to cover severe injury or disability resulting from his job. They have to be high for covering him to be worth it to the company.

It's easy to have insurance for a drunk schmo who falls down the steps at the track because walking down the stairs is considered much less risky than riding in a race.

[paisjpq]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Self-employed Americans pay for their own insurance. Most insured people don't pay for their own insurance; their employer does.

The problem is, insurance companies, like any other business, are in it to make money, and they don't make money when they have to pay out claims. In the case of jockeys, it's not a case of if they'll be injured; it's when, how often and how badly. So they aren't an ideal insurance risk. Why would a company want to insure someone they won't make money off of? I can't see how the average workingman jockey could possibly afford the premiums for insurance with a high enough ceiling to cover severe injury or disability resulting from his job. They have to be high for covering him to be worth it to the company.

It's easy to have insurance for a drunk schmo who falls down the steps at the track because walking down the stairs is considered much less risky than riding in a race.

this is a good point...I think that jockeys should have a million $$ catostophic policy, but the cost of insurance is absurd...
I have a farrier friend who had to drop his insurance because the premiums were so high (since he works in a dangerous job) and some companies won't take him at all (cause he has a 'dangerous job')
My own employer pays my salary under one of his other companies...when I was added to the payroll the insurance for the entire company went up because I work with horses...one person increased the premiums for a company with 50 employees...it's maddening.

[GinaIsWild]

Originally Posted by merasmag

when u need him? hopefully, praying for these guys...i smell a strike coming and then jfeld can ride instead

I'm sorry, I just don't sympathize with these guys and their "plight" They can easily afford to fund their own insurance but they (their organization and it's leadership choose not to) would prefer to try and extort every other sector of the industry. It's a sad situation to be sure, but they are solely responsible.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by Jfeld

I'm sorry, I just don't sympathize with these guys and their "plight" They can easily afford to fund their own insurance but they (their organization and it's leadership choose not to) would prefer to try and extort every other sector of the industry. It's a sad situation to be sure, but they are solely responsible.

I couldn't agree more.

When they turned down the offer in Kentucky last year, where they only had to foot a small part of the bill, and then tried to extort MORE money from horseplayers they solidified their indefensible position. THEY drew the line in the sand....not us.

[Gander]

I always think of that HBO special narrated by Shane Sellers as he is driving in his Mercedes SUV. Cry me a river. My wife and I's health insurance just went up huge for 2007, there goes any raise that I was expecting at work. Gone to pay for our healthcare.

I met Shane about 10 years ago and he was a teriffic gentleman. Mike Smith was also very nice. I had the honor of being at Siros (when it use to be good)
the night of Holy Bull's win in the Haskell. Mike was very generous that evening, but his wife (at the time) was anything but nice. Looked at us like we were dirt. Hopefully for him Chantal is nicer.

Man, what ever happened to Siros anyway? Ever since they started hiring those bands like the Refirgeartors, the place's clientel has took a nosedive.

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by Jfeld

I'm sorry, I just don't sympathize with these guys and their "plight" They can easily afford to fund their own insurance but they (their organization and it's leadership choose not to) would prefer to try and extort every other sector of the industry. It's a sad situation to be sure, but they are solely responsible.

The Jockey's Guild has mismanaged their constituent's interests for so long that they're no longer representitive of their own members. The lastest debacle involving the decision to bring in rabblerousers with their intimidation techniques rather than problemsolving horsemen with knowledge, experience, and industry respect is case in point.

They'd almost be ahead to scrap the whole mess and start from anew, if that's even feasible.

What really should be done at any track that has slots is... Provide insurance for all who work at the track, that eleviates the state or counties from having the cost on their back. It would IMO balance out rates as you would have non risk jobs and high risk pooled together. Insurance rates for horseman are out of control!! Everyday there are trainers going out of business because of the costs... We have paid over 10,000 a year when we were doing all of the work ourselves... and we were not covered if something did happen.

Insurance would be paid off the top before any percentages were delved out. The slots pull in enough money for us to care for ourselves... so why aren't we. The jocks do need to be protected... so do the rest of us who run the risk everyday for hours upon hours.. not just the one and a half minute ride in the afternoon.