Horse Owners Question NetJets' Deal With Jockeys At Derby
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Jockeys' Guild Says NetJets
Followed Proper Procedure |
Some horse owners are "questioning the manner in which a corporate sponsorship tied to charitable causes was handled" during last weekend's Kentucky Derby, even though the Jockeys' Guild said that the "parties followed proper procedure," according to Tom LaMarra of BLOODHORSE.com. Jockeys in the Kentucky Derby wore a NetJets logo in exchange for the company "making a donation to the riders." NetJets "paid $15,000 per jockey for a total of $285,000." A NetJets press release said the jockeys would donate money to both the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund (PDJF) and the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF), but the release "didn't specify how much money would go where." Sources said that the TRF "received $5,000 from each jockey, and that the jockeys each got $10,000." The sources said that "some owners weren't aware of the financial details." Jockeys' Guild National Manager Terry Meyocks said that the TRF "actually will receive a lump sum of $75,000, and the PDJF $75,000." That "leaves $135,00 for the jockeys -- about $7,100 each." NetJets was "involved in a similar sponsorship during last year's Triple Crown." Meyocks: "All of the owners signed the approval form. We were up front with everything. We're not trying to mislead anybody. The agreement was between the jockeys and NetJets." Meyocks said that "after approval from all 20 owners" was received, Churchill Downs and the stewards "signed off on the deal." Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders Association President Dan Metzger said that it is "important for owners of racehorses to be involved in any sponsorship discussions." Metzger: "You can't exclude owners -- they own the horses, and should be at the center of discussions. The individual owner should be empowered to make the decision on how sponsorship revenue is divided" (BLOODHORSE.com, 5/7).
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