Jockeys' Guild

Jockeys' Guild
Jockeys' Guild
Founded1940
HeadquartersLexington, Kentucky
Location
Key people
John Velazquez, Chairman
G. R. Carter, Vice Chairman
Jon Court, Secretary
Websitewww.jockeysguild.com

The Jockeys' Guild Inc. is an American trade association based in Lexington, Kentucky, representing thoroughbred horse racing and American quarter horse professional jockeys. The organization filed for Chapter 11 protection from creditors in bankruptcy court in Louisville, Kentucky, on October 12, 2007.

Established in 1940, the organization's founding members consisted of many of the leading jockeys of the day including Eddie Arcaro, Carroll Bierman, Charley Kurtsinger, Johnny Longden, Don Meade, Maurice Peters, Red Pollard, Sam Renick, Harry Richards, Alfred Robertson, and Ray Workman.

The Jockeys' Guild founding board was made up of:

  • Harry Richards - President
  • Lester Balaski - 1st Vice President
  • Eddie Arcaro - 2nd Vice President
  • Raymond Workman - 3rd Vice President
  • Irving Anderson - Treasurer

On February 24, 2001, the Thoroughbred Times published an article captioned 'A debt of remembrance', that told the story of the important work by jockey Tommy Luther, that led to the Guild's creation. The story recounted the influence on Luther, when he was part of the horrific circumstances North American jockeys lived under at the time; fellow jockey Earl "Sandy" Graham was killed while racing at Polo Park Racetrack in Winnipeg, Manitoba in September 1927.[1]

Presidents

L. Wayne Gertmenian

L. Wayne Gertmenian
OccupationProfessor of economics at Pepperdine University

L. Wayne Gertmenian is a professor of economics at Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business and Management.[2]

Gertmenian is known for being sued for fraud by the Jockeys' Guild after being ousted as president.[by whom?] The Jockeys' Guild alleged in a civil lawsuit filed that Gertmenian used his consulting firm and another company owned by a family member to embezzle funds from the labor organization's members and the guild health-care plan.[3]

A U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee looking at jockey health and welfare issues was sharply critical of Gertmenian's management of the Jockeys' Guild. Congress had concerns about Gertmenian himself, and his tendency to embellish.[4][5] Gertmenian's resume includes references that he was chief détente negotiator in the Nixon and Ford administrations, references that could not be confirmed by Congress or the Department of Defense.[6][7]

Gertmenian also recorded the audio program "Everything's Negotiable".[8][9]

References

  1. ^ "A debt of remembrance - Thoroughbred Times". Archived from the original on 2008-07-23. Retrieved 2009-03-01.
  2. ^ "Meet the Faculty | Graziadio Experience | Pepperdine University | Graziadio School of Business and Management". Archived from the original on 2014-09-13. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  3. ^ "Jockeys Guild Sues Former President, Alleging Fraud - latimes". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2016-05-11. Retrieved 2020-08-28.
  4. ^ "Guild's Gertmenian Called 'Absolute Disgrace' in House Hearing". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  5. ^ "THOROUGHBRED HORSE RACING JOCKEYS AND WORKERS: EXAMINING ON-TRACK INJURY INSURANCE AND OTHER HEALTH AND WELFARE ISSUES". Govinfo.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  6. ^ "Guild's Gertmenian Called 'Absolute Disgrace' in House Hearing". BloodHorse.com.
  7. ^ "THOROUGHBRED HORSE RACING JOCKEYS AND WORKERS: EXAMINING ON-TRACK INJURY INSURANCE AND OTHER HEALTH AND WELFARE ISSUES" (PDF). Gpo.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-25.
  8. ^ Everything's negotiable Negotiating secrets by Dr. Wayne Gertmenian. Retrieved 25 January 2022 – via Amazon.com.
  9. ^ "Bad-Luck Jockeys". Archived from the original on 2012-02-11. Retrieved 2020-08-28.


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