Insurance Concerns Cause TP Riders to Refuse to Ride
Mar 25, 2014 20:26:25 GMT -5
Post by Evelyn on Mar 25, 2014 20:26:25 GMT -5
TURF PARADISE JOCKEYS REFUSE TO RIDE TUESDAY CARD, CITING INSURANCE CONCERNS
by Natalie Voss |
PR
Today’s race card at Turf Paradise was cancelled after the jockey colony there learned of updates to injured rider Anne von Rosen’s financial status.
Von Rosen was involved in a spill at Turf Paradise two weeks ago which left her paralyzed from the waist down. On Tuesday, she received word from track officials that the money provided by the track’s insurance policy has run out. The situation brought to light an issue that jockeys have been concerned about for some time: insurance.
“Riders felt that they could not go out there and ride knowing that if something happens, they could end up like Anne is right now: looking for money just to take care of her the way she should be taken care of,” said Darrell Haire, regional manager of the Jockeys’ Guild. “They felt that it’s a safety issue, a safety concern. They know how dangerous this is, that they could be physically destroyed. They take that risk and they know it, but financially too … they have families.”
Von Rosen was injured in the first race on March 11 when mount Panchita Bonita collapsed after the completion of the race, dumping von Rosen and then falling on top of her. She has since undergone multiple surgeries and was preparing to transfer to a hospital in Denver to begin rehabilitation when she received the news on Tuesday that her hospital bills currently total over $600,000 (not including ambulance and physicians’ fees, or transportation costs to Denver).
The insurance limit for on-track accidents at Turf Paradise is $500,000. The industry standard is $1,000,000, and even that isn’t always adequate depending upon the nature of a rider’s injuries. The Jockeys’ Guild released a statement last week outlining the need for $1 million insurance minimums for tracks in states where riding accidents are not covered by workers’ compensation. Hall of Fame riders Mike Smith and Gary Stevens visited the Turf Paradise colony the same day to lend an ear to jockeys’ concerns in regards to safety.
Jockeys’ representatives met with Turf Paradise owner Jerry Simms one month ago to express concern over the low limit to the insurance policy, and even pointed out that in the case of serious injury, a rider could be left in the lurch.
Von Rosen’s accident occurred weeks later.
Craig Hospital, which specializes in neurological injuries, in Denver requires an up-front payment of $150,000 before von Rosen can begin her 60-day course of rehabilitation. According to Jockeys’ Guild spokeswoman Mindy Coleman, Turf Paradise officials offered von Rosen $43,000 toward that up-front payment if she would waive her right to weekly disability payments and other long-term benefits provided by the insurance program.
“When a rider is catastrophically injured like this, they need to focus on getting better, not who’s paying what bills,” said Coleman.
Turf Paradise general manager Vince Francia said that while he was unfamiliar with von Rosen’s specific coverage, his understanding was that the $43,000 was offered out of the track’s pocket, and that the money had made up the difference between the available funds and Craig Hospital’s required down payment.
Francia said that in response to the riders’ concerns, the track is extending the on-track accident insurance coverage to $1 million, and the additional coverage will be in place by Wednesday morning. Francia also said that the meeting to inform jockeys of the update took place on Tuesday morning, hours before they announced their decision not to ride.
“We were all in agreement,” he said. “Nobody was arguing over where it should be $500,000 or $1,000,000 … so, when they walked out with 30 minutes to post, it came as a surprise.”
Francia said that the track had looked into boosting the on-track accident coverage and had been waiting for calls back this week. The contract was taken on by a London-based company, and the time difference was the reason for the hold-up on official paperwork until Wednesday morning.
For the jockeys’ part, Haire said they did not feel comfortable riding until the paperwork was received and the extra coverage was in place.
Haire said although the choice to ride is left up to riders individually, he expects that once the paperwork comes through on Wednesday, they will likely be back in the saddle.
by Natalie Voss |
PR
Today’s race card at Turf Paradise was cancelled after the jockey colony there learned of updates to injured rider Anne von Rosen’s financial status.
Von Rosen was involved in a spill at Turf Paradise two weeks ago which left her paralyzed from the waist down. On Tuesday, she received word from track officials that the money provided by the track’s insurance policy has run out. The situation brought to light an issue that jockeys have been concerned about for some time: insurance.
“Riders felt that they could not go out there and ride knowing that if something happens, they could end up like Anne is right now: looking for money just to take care of her the way she should be taken care of,” said Darrell Haire, regional manager of the Jockeys’ Guild. “They felt that it’s a safety issue, a safety concern. They know how dangerous this is, that they could be physically destroyed. They take that risk and they know it, but financially too … they have families.”
Von Rosen was injured in the first race on March 11 when mount Panchita Bonita collapsed after the completion of the race, dumping von Rosen and then falling on top of her. She has since undergone multiple surgeries and was preparing to transfer to a hospital in Denver to begin rehabilitation when she received the news on Tuesday that her hospital bills currently total over $600,000 (not including ambulance and physicians’ fees, or transportation costs to Denver).
The insurance limit for on-track accidents at Turf Paradise is $500,000. The industry standard is $1,000,000, and even that isn’t always adequate depending upon the nature of a rider’s injuries. The Jockeys’ Guild released a statement last week outlining the need for $1 million insurance minimums for tracks in states where riding accidents are not covered by workers’ compensation. Hall of Fame riders Mike Smith and Gary Stevens visited the Turf Paradise colony the same day to lend an ear to jockeys’ concerns in regards to safety.
Jockeys’ representatives met with Turf Paradise owner Jerry Simms one month ago to express concern over the low limit to the insurance policy, and even pointed out that in the case of serious injury, a rider could be left in the lurch.
Von Rosen’s accident occurred weeks later.
Craig Hospital, which specializes in neurological injuries, in Denver requires an up-front payment of $150,000 before von Rosen can begin her 60-day course of rehabilitation. According to Jockeys’ Guild spokeswoman Mindy Coleman, Turf Paradise officials offered von Rosen $43,000 toward that up-front payment if she would waive her right to weekly disability payments and other long-term benefits provided by the insurance program.
“When a rider is catastrophically injured like this, they need to focus on getting better, not who’s paying what bills,” said Coleman.
Turf Paradise general manager Vince Francia said that while he was unfamiliar with von Rosen’s specific coverage, his understanding was that the $43,000 was offered out of the track’s pocket, and that the money had made up the difference between the available funds and Craig Hospital’s required down payment.
Francia said that in response to the riders’ concerns, the track is extending the on-track accident insurance coverage to $1 million, and the additional coverage will be in place by Wednesday morning. Francia also said that the meeting to inform jockeys of the update took place on Tuesday morning, hours before they announced their decision not to ride.
“We were all in agreement,” he said. “Nobody was arguing over where it should be $500,000 or $1,000,000 … so, when they walked out with 30 minutes to post, it came as a surprise.”
Francia said that the track had looked into boosting the on-track accident coverage and had been waiting for calls back this week. The contract was taken on by a London-based company, and the time difference was the reason for the hold-up on official paperwork until Wednesday morning.
For the jockeys’ part, Haire said they did not feel comfortable riding until the paperwork was received and the extra coverage was in place.
Haire said although the choice to ride is left up to riders individually, he expects that once the paperwork comes through on Wednesday, they will likely be back in the saddle.