REVIEWING THE JOCKEYS GUILD

http://www.jockeysguild.com The years leading up to the formation of an organization to speak for jockeys were filled with frustration and pain. There was widespread misuse of power over the jockeys and very few horsemen or track management's were sympathetic to the needs of the riders. In the late 1930's several jockeys held secretive meetings to discuss the idea of raising funds to assist injured or disabled riders and the families of jockeys fatally injured on the racetrack. Some riders, like Tommy Luther, were blacklisted and punished when suspected of attending the secret meetings. The actual formation of The Jockeys Community Fund and Guild was precipitated by the racing injury of Sammy Renick. When Eddie Arcaro visited Renick, who was recovering in the hospital from a broken leg, their discussions led to the formation of an organization that would represent the concerns of jockeys.
The organization's constitution stated that to be in good standing in the club, members must hold a valid, unrevoked [sic?] jockey's license. Dues for the fledgling club were determined as $30 per year, plus 25 cents per mount.
The founding fathers of the organization were the leading jockeys of the turf, prominent among them being Eddie Arcaro, Don Meade, John Longden, Lester Haas, Alfred Robertson, Lester Balaski, Charlie Kurtsinger, Carroll Bierman, Ray Workman, Harry Richards, Irving Anderson, John Pollard, Maurice Peters, George Seabo and Sam Renick.
Many of the leading riders across the country were selected to serve as officers of the organization including, Harry Richards, president; Lester Balaski, first vice president; Eddie Arcaro, second vice president; Ray Workman, third vice president; and Irving Anderson, treasurer. William Gillespie, a non-jockey, was to serve as secretary of the Jockeys' Guild and U. S. Army Colonel, Lewis Landes, was asked to act as general counsel pro bono.
The jockeys quickly commenced the work to build their new organiza­tion in the best way they knew how - utilizing their celebrity. They hosted dances, shows and dinners across the country to raise funds. Sam Renick would normally act as master of ceremonies and the Who's Who in racing would attend, including the Whitney's, Vanderbilt's, Sloanes's and Phipp's. The Guild also con­ducted celebrity softball games and jockey boxing matches to raise funds for the new organization. This is a little history on the jockeys guild. The jockeys guild is for injured jockeys all over the world who need help. Please visit our website http://www.jockeysguild.com for more information. By Tom Bush Trainer