Horse racing probe could aid hurt riders.

A congressional sub-committee probing alleged mismanagement within the trade union that represents professional thoroughbred horse racing jockeys could consider new legislation mandating some of the industry's simulcast revenues be set aside for health, disability or workers' compensation insurance for the riders.

The proposal was floated during the third in a series of hearings hosted by the House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee into the conduct of the Jockey's Guild under ousted former Chief Executive Officer L. Wayne Gertemenian. After two initial hearings that focused on inadequate on-track insurance coverage to compensate disabled riders, the guild sued Gertemenian and former Chief Operating Officer Albert Fiss to try to recover money the union alleges its former leaders squandered.

John Velazquez, the California-based guild's current chairman, asked the congressional panel to consider changes to the federal Interstate Horseracing Act that would "give jockeys the legal right, along with trainers and owners, to a fair share of the revenue from the transmission of the horse racing signal." Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield, R-Ky., said he would consider sponsoring the legislation.