Racetracks across the country, including Laurel Park, have vowed to conduct full racing cards on Jan. 1, whether or not there is a jockeys' walkout, officials of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations said yesterday.
Chris Scherf, executive vice president of the TRA, which represents most major tracks, said he has contacted about a dozen of the organization's member tracks that are racing that day "and all of them are convinced that they will be able to run their regular cards. Their message to horsemen is: 'Get the jockeys and we'll be open.' "
Scherf said that approximately 40 percent or less of the nation's licensed jockeys are guild members. He expects non-guild riders, as well as some guild jockeys who don't support the walkout, to accept mounts.
"The guild claims they have just under 1,000 members and that they ride 75 to 80 percent of the races," Scherf said. "But each year there are between 2,500 and 2,900 jockeys licensed in this country. Some of them might not ride that frequently, but they are licensed and could be available."
In Maryland, many of the top riders -- Mark Johnston, Larry Reynolds, Edgar Prado, Mario Pino and Joe Rocco -- are members and most of them have said they will support the guild if a walkout occurs.
Jimmy Edwards, the guild's regional manager, estimates 90 percent of the Laurel jockeys are guild members. It is up to each jockey to decide if he or she will ride since the guild is not a union and cannot sanction a strike.
Laurel's general manager, John Mooney, said yesterday that "we expect our jockeys to ride, especially here because we are in a state that carries full workmen's compensation coverage for them. We also contribute our daily fee to the TRA [which is turned over to the guild to pay for benefits] and we also provide catastrophic insurance. We feel we are fulfilling our obligation."
Richard Hoffberger, president of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, said his general feeling from talking to owners and trainers is that "most believe other people will be here to ride [Jan. 1] in the event the regular jockeys don't show up. There is also hope that our regular riders will see that they are in a different situation here because we are one of the few states that provides full workmen's compensation coverage."
However, the guild wants to increase benefits other than workmen's compensation, such as making sure that all members, once they retire, have adequate health and life insurance policies as well as a pension. In addition, many Maryland jockeys frequently ride Maryland horses at out-of-town tracks such as Delaware Park, which doesn't have comprehensive worker's comp, and have little coverage should a severe injury occur.
The TRA and the Jockeys' Guild are at an impasse in negotiations over renewing a contract that expires Dec. 31.
On Tuesday, the TRA rejected the guild's plan to add races at tracks around the country and turn over the proceeds to pay for an increased benefits package for the riders.
The TRA has agreed to increase accidental and weekly disability payments to the riders if a contract settlement is not reached on Dec. 31, but will not contribute about $1.7 million annually that it now pays for the jockeys' benefits package.