With talks stalled, a lull settled over negotiations yesterday in the track owners-jockeys dispute that could lead to a nationwide walkout by the riders Jan. 1.
Each side has rejected the other's last offer. Right now, there is no initiative planned by either side to jump-start the discussions and there are no fresh ideas being espoused. The current contract between the two groups expires Dec. 31.
The Thoroughbred Racing Associations, which represents the track owners, says the next move is up to the jockeys.
The Jockeys' Guild says the next move is up to the TRA.
"It's been said that we've been painted into a corner," said John Giovanni, national manager of the Jockeys' Guild. "But we haven't. We've been pushed there. You know what happens to a rabbit, don't you, when he's backed into a corner? He bites."
Giovanni said it's up to the TRA to put a proposal on the table.
"We're tired of going to them year after year like Oliver Twist holding an empty bowl in his hand and asking for something more. We're heading into the 21st century and trying to get our riders 20th century coverage and they're treating us like jockeys in the 1800s.
"We settled for less than what we wanted three years ago and gave them until now to come up with a fair offer. But they've given us no increase in the fees [$1.7 million annually] that are paid for our media rights.
"That amount was inadequate then and it's inadequate now. They've gone back on their word and it's up to them to now say: "Are we going to sit down and deal in good faith?' "
After the guild said last week that the same $1.7 million funding offer was unacceptable, the TRA on Tuesday rejected the group's alternative plan to add races around the country and turn over the proceeds to the guild to pay for an increased benefits package for the riders.
Giovanni said he has no idea how to break the logjam in the negotiations. On Tuesday, the TRA said it had nothing more to offer and added Wednesday that all TRA tracks are confident that they can run full cards Jan. 1 by using substitute jockeys if the guild riders walk out.
"Maybe they can," Giovanni said. "But before any rider goes out there on the track, he has to ask himself four questions:
* "Am I willing to ride without accident coverage? Even though he might be covered in one place, he might not be covered in another. Julie Krone had a terrible fall at Saratoga and broke several bones. She was fully covered. But if the accident had occurred in Florida, she wouldn't have been.
* "Am I going to go out there and ride without adequate health insurance? Sure, the TRA is increasing accident coverage to $100,000. But two years ago at Calder, Michael Lee had a spill and used up $100,000 worth of coverage in two weeks. The guild is still paying for his bills. There are 2,500 reported injuries to jockeys each year. So with riders, it's not 'if' they are are going to get hurt, it's 'when.'
* "Are they willing to go out there and ride and give up their media rights? We've been paid for them since 1968 and now the TRA wants to institute language that clouds the issue. If they give up their rights, then they have nothing left to bargain with.
* "If they go out there and ride, what happens to the 47 permanently disabled riders that the guild now pays $200 a month? They would get nothing, and at $200 a month I'd like to see [TRA executives] Brian McGrath and Chris Scherf take a job that offers them those kind of benefits. I don't see an ambulance following them around in their jobs every day."
Giovanni said the last time the riders walked out it was over how much money jockeys at the New York tracks were paid for finishing second and third.
"Aqueduct went ahead and ran, used wannabe jockeys, and lost 25 percent of their handle. Two weeks later, the horsemen finally settled with the jockeys and instituted the same kind of percentage scale that's prevalent at other tracks.
"The whole thing was stupid then and this current situation is just as dumb."
Giovanni said three years ago the TRA and the guild finally settled on a contract on New Year's Eve "at the last minute.
Things are shaping up the same way this time."