We, the undersigned, ask that Churchill Downs agrees to negotiate a new contract with the Jockey's guild.

A few months ago Churchill Downs Inc informed The Jockey’s Guild that they would no longer financially support their riders with a payment of approximately $330,000 a year which goes toward life insurance for the jockeys as well as accidental death & dismemberment insurance and temporary disability assistance

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 A few months ago Churchill Downs Inc informed The Jockey’s Guild that they would no longer financially support their riders with a payment of approximately $330,000 a year which goes toward life insurance for the jockeys as well as accidental death & dismemberment insurance and temporary disability assistance.
The $330,000 amount comes from a per- mount fee of, in most cases, $9 per mount, which the jockey’s match with $4 per mount that goes to The Jockey’s Guild. The $330,000 amount represents all four CHI racetracks, Calder, Arlington Park, The Fair Grounds, as well as Churchill Downs itself.

Considering that Churchill Downs Inc. is projected to make $40 million in profit in 2012, the $330, 000 in question to the Jockey’s Guild seems very small amount of money we are talking about here. Also, almost all other tracks in the United States, including MAGNA tracks and NYRA have not only renewed their agreements with the Guild, but have embraced it as a fundamentally & financially sound way to deal with the dangers jockeys face every day.

We feel that a petition will be helpful to show CHI that this is unacceptable treatment of these courageous athletes.

It's time for CDI to support its athletes by agreeing to negotiate a new contract with the Jockey's guild.