Report: Horse Trainers Face Retroactive Fee to Cover Shortage in Comp Fund

Tuesday, April 7, 2020 | 0

California horse trainers are facing a retroactive charge of $1,233 per horse for the first quarter of 2020 to cover a shortfall in funding for a self-insured workers’ compensation program, according to the Paulick Report.

The board of directors for the Post Time Self-Insurance Group said the shortage is a result of the frequency and severity of claims and the indefinite suspension of racing, which reduced the subsidy for comp costs that comes from the amount of money being bet at tracks.

“These are expenses that need to be covered, and as joint and several members, you are responsible for paying to keep the program in business,” the board reportedly said in a memo.

According to the Paulick Report, the self-insurance group said trainers might be eligible for loans from the federal government’s Paycheck Protection Program, and work comp premiums may be considered payroll costs for the purposes of the loans.