A Most Hazardous Profession© Greg Melikov
May 16, 2000
The year that Gallahadion won the Kentucky Derby, FDR was president, I was 5 years old and the Jockeys' Guild was established. This year, on May 4, the guild observed its 60th anniversary.
The founding fathers included Eddie Arcaro, who won The Derby five times. Formation of the organization was precipitated by jockey Sammy Resnick's broken leg. Arcaro visited Resnick in the hospital and their discussion led to the guild, created to represent the concerns of jockeys.
Also instrumental in setting up the group were Carroll Bierman, who rode Gallahadion to victory in the 1940 Kentucky Derby; Leon Hass, aboard third-place finisher Dit; Lester Balaski, who rode the fourth-place Mioland; and Johnny Longden, on fifth-place Sirocco.
One of the guild's primary purposes is to help injured or disabled jockeys who need financial assistance. Thumbing through a recent edition of its official newsletter, The Jockey News, I learned that more injuries occur at tracks that I ever imagined.
The publication documented 203 various injuries to jockeys across the country last year from late July through late November. Amazingly only seven mishaps were attributed to horses clipping heels or bumping, sending jockeys to the ground.
Most astounding was 85 injuries centered around the starting gate -- either getting ready to enter it, in it or just breaking from it.
While in the gate, riders on unruly thoroughbreds injured about every part of their anatomy from the neck and back to the knee and foot. Many injuries occurred banging against the side of the gate.
Hands proved the most vulnerable; several riders broke them. And one even suffered a chipped tooth.
Ten jockeys were hurt before they got to the starting gate; three were kicked while trying to mount in the paddock.
Another 17 riders were injured after the race was over, with several horses unseating them; three strained muscles pulling up their mounts.
It's no picnic out there for jockeys -- it's downright dangerous.
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