Arcadia, Calif. Dec. 18, 2012 – The California Thoroughbred Business League (CTBL), a group comprised of racing associations, horsemen’s organizations and fairs, is responsible for overseeing funds that are to be utilized for providing workers’ compensation insurance relief to horsemen. Working with Finish Line Self Insurance Group (FLSIG), who have handled workers’ compensation for the Thoroughbred horsemen for the past year and a half, the CTBL has been dealing with the issue of skyrocketing workers’ compensation rates. The cost of the 2013 program for Thoroughbreds is estimated to be $12,000,000. As a result, the program has been revamped and the changes will go into effect at Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields when the venues re-open on December 26.
The outcome is that owners will no longer have $105 automatically deducted from their paymaster account every time they start a horse. Money generated by statute for the fund will be paid directly to FLSIG. In addition to these funds, trainers will continue to pay at the same rate as they did in 2012. The balance of money needed to fund the program will come from the purse accounts at the various venues throughout the state.
Participation Purses – Owners of horses competing in ALL races in which their horses do not finish first through fifth shall be entitled to a Participation Purse. Horses that finish sixth and beyond (and to fifth place finishers when their share of purse money is less than the corresponding Participation Purse) shall be paid as follows:
• $250 per start in the South
• $100 per start in the North
• $100 per start at the Fairs*
Owners having workers’ comp insurance questions concerning the FLSIG Workers’ Compensation program may call (714) 820-2743.
*As of July, 2014 participation purses in the North and at the Northern Fairs are $105 per start.
