Being a jockey, of Quarter Horses or Thoroughbreds, is an exceedingly hazardous occupation. Watching your dearest race-ride is not a pleasant experience. Most races are run without event, but you know, given enough rides, one day they will be unlucky, and then it is just a question of how unlucky.
A broken collarbone means 3-6 weeks off work, lost mounts, lost income. And a broken collarbone is good news in the scale of rider injuries. Riders being injured severely or worse is a daily risk, and that has been the case since the sport began, which is why it is incredible that financial care for these riders, injured doing their job, is piecemeal.
The injured jockey’s colleagues have a collection in the weighing room. Then there are weekly payments from a few sources. Mostly though, if a rider wants to know they are going to be financially okay if they are hurt, then they have to take out private insurance, which is expensive.
Tom Foley, of Ormond Specialty Insurance, based in Virginia, estimates only around 20 percent of riders have temporary disability cover, or the much cheaper life insurance, which would provide some benefit if permanently disabled.
Irishman Foley he is a former five-time G1-winning jump jockey in the States, so he knows what’s he’s talking about, and he cares.
“I spent a year and a half driving around nearly every racetrack in the country trying to explain who we are and what we do,” he says. “But it’s still something a lot of people don’t pay attention to. I try to explain to the guys the need to have coverage, and more people are getting it now. There are short-term and long-term policies now.
“I took out a bad policy when I rode, so I know there is some rubbish out there. It really bothered me, so that is why I try to speak to riders.
“Look, Nancy LaSala at the PDJF [Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund] does a great job, but they receive no guaranteed funding, and their big fundraisers have been affected by Covid. Life insurance is cheap at least, and, God forbid, a rider should get paralyzed, they would receive a benefit.
“Sadly sometimes, though, it takes a rider getting hurt before they realize this is the way they should have gone.”
“I work with the Jockeys’ Guild, and they did a great job to get some media rights money directed to help with the riders’ insurance costs at some of the major tracks, such as Stronach Group, Churchill Inc and NYRA, and some others.”
Peace of mind
Twenty-seven racetracks are taking part in this scheme now. The Jockeys’ Guild also provides up to two years’ weekly payments of $200 to temporarily injured jockeys, and it assists with co-pays for medical bills for permanently disabled riders, as well as a life insurance scheme. But not all jockeys belong to the guild.
Racecourses do take care of a riders’ medical bills in the event of an accident in a race, and they also make immediate payment to injured riders of $250 weekly, but surely a policy that guaranteed a substantial sum to all riders permanently disabled or killed at one of their racetracks should be in place.
I have seen so many riders hurt, but jockeys are very tough and very fit, and nearly always they come back to ply their trade again. When they are off hurt, though, they lose nearly all their income, so a proper insurance policy can provide peace of mind for themselves and their families.
One thing that may help riders who suddenly find their circumstances changed - their career going strong at breakfast, then over before dinner - could be perhaps a support body to deal psychologically with their sudden change, and then help, in time, to try to develop and move on into a new life trying to build a second career.
In the UK there is an organization called Jockeys Employment and Training Scheme (JETS), which has helped many riders move on to other worthwhile and rewarding careers after their days in the saddle were over.
Tom Foley says, “I know a ton of riders that don’t even have health insurance, people with kids, and I feel part of my job is to help educate riders about how important is to have policies to provide them with security, and also to save, and how to save. And I know whatever time I get a call, I’ve got to take it. I know what their job is, so I’m there 24/7 if I’m needed.
“I’ve seen riders that made much more money than me when they were riding and now they have nothing. I spend time with guys showing them how a 401k [a defined-contribution retirement account] works. They have to save for their retirement.”
The PDJF is currently helping 60 permanently disabled riders, riders with severe brain injury, riders left completely paralyzed. If you have never donated to them, even if you have, they need your help now, no matter how little you can give. They receive good support from so many people within the industry, but LaSala says they have been deeply impacted by the cancellation of so many of their fundraising events because of coronavirus.
I will donate all the royalties I receive from Amazon for the sale of my book Around Kentucky With the Bug! for a month from the date this article.