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. Presidents Harry Richards: 1940-1943 Sterling Young: 1943-1949 Eddie Arcaro: 1949-1962 Sam Boulmetis: 1962-1967 William Boland: 1967-1969 Walter Blum: 1969-1975 Mike Venezia: 1975-1981 Bill Shoemaker: 1981-1989 Jerry D. Bailey: 1989-1996 Gary Stevens: 1996-2000 Pat Day: 2000-2001 Tomey Jean Swan: 2001 (Acting) L. Wayne Gertmenian: 2001-2005 Darrell Haire: 2005-2006 (Acting) Dwight Manley: 2006-2007 John R. Velazquez: 2007–present L. Wayne Gertmenian L. Wayne Gertmenian is a professor of economics at Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business and Management. Gertmenian is known for being sued for fraud by the Jockeys' Guild after being ousted as president. 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. 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. 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. Gertmenian also recorded the audio program "Everything's Negotiable". References External links Jockeys' Guild website Horse racing