Page 59 - Speedhorse, December 2018

“He’s dedicated and loyal to the jockeys. He’s good at what he does and he’s loved by all.” – G.R. Carter Jr.
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE JOCKS
Simply stated, the Jockeys’ Guild advocates for the safety and welfare of
horses and riders. “Basically, we ensure that jockeys are respected and protected,” Terry says. The organization deals with a host
of issues, from safety equipment (such as helmets, vests and safety reins) to having paramedics, ambulances and hospitals at the ready; from promoting fair play to honorably furthering the interests of its members
and the industry; from enacting beneficial rule changes to providing insurance and disability; and from negotiating rider fee increases to increasing the scale of jockey weights to a minimum of 118 pounds to keep riders healthier.
One of the most difficult of The Jockeys’ Guild duties is dealing with rider injury and death. Membership fees go in part to a fund to assist injured and disabled jockeys and the families of riders who are fatally injured while racing.
“It takes a special person to do what the managers do,” says Darrell. “We deal with a lot. We have to handle the situation with the families with as much compassion and caring as we can, and it can be very sad at times. We’ve got to block some things out, otherwise it would destroy us as human beings to see all that these people go through when faced with tragic and life- changing events.”
G.R. describes John as being all about the jocks. “He’s dedicated and loyal to the jockeys. He’s good at what he does and he’s loved by all. He’s more than someone who’s done a lot for me and for the jockeys:
He’s a friend.”
“I have the utmost respect for John,” Terry says. “He’s dedicated to representing the riders and looking out for the best interests of all the jockeys who are in the Guild, which basically benefits even those who aren’t.
“At times, it seems like we’re still dealing with a lot of the same safety issues that existed when the Guild was formed
in 1940,” he adds. But among the progress made in some states are the availability of advanced life support and helicopter pads at racetracks.
A BOUNCE IN HIS STEP
Darrell describes Johnny as “a youthful 76. He has a bounce in his step. Anybody who knows Johnny Beech know he goes and goes, like that battery — the energizer. He has a passion for taking care of people and I’m honored to have ridden with him and to have worked with him and to have known him as a dear friend for all these years.”
When asked about the future, Johnny says, “I’m too young to retire. I love what I’m doing; it’s very fulfilling, and my kids are all grown. I love getting to give back to the sport and still be involved in horse racing.”
John Beech with AQHA’s all-time leading jockey G.R. Carter Jr.
SPEEDHORSE, December 2018 57