Labor & Industry Industrial Insurance
If you intend to participate in horse racing at a track or off-track-betting facility under the jurisdiction of the Washington Horse Racing Commission (WHRC) you must first be licensed by the WHRC. License applications are supplied by the WHRC and may be obtained at the main office in Olympia, field offices, or by downloading from this site.
In addition to being licensed, trainers and owners must also obtain industrial insurance coverage and pay the appropriate premiums to the WHRC. The WHRC transfers these funds quarterly to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries (L&I). Owners are required to pay the owners subsidy at the time of licensing, while trainers pay monthly to cover the employees working for the trainer the previous month.
The industrial insurance premiums provide workers compensation coverage for employees of the trainer, which include assistant trainers, grooms, exercise riders, and pony riders. Although owners are required to pay industrial insurance premiums at the time of licensing their premiums do not provide any workers compensation coverage to employees of the owner. The premiums paid by owners are a subsidy to the Horse Industry Account, the account that supports horse racing in the state of Washington.
The L&I premiums for owners licensed at Emerald Downs are based on the percent of ownership and are shown in the list and table below:
1% to 10% ownership = $15.00
11% to 15% ownership = $22.50
16% to 20% ownership = $30.00
21% to 25% ownership = $37.50
26% to 30% ownership = $45.00
31% to 35% ownership = $52.50
36% to 40% ownership = $60.00
41% to 45% ownership = $67.50
46% to 50% ownership = $75.00
51% to 55% ownership = $82.50
56% to 60% ownership = $90.00
61% to 65% ownership = $97.50
66% to 70% ownership = $105.00
71% to 75% ownership = $112.50
76% to 80% ownership = $120.00
81% to 85% ownership = $127.50
86% to 90% ownership = $135.00
91% to 95% ownership = $142.50
96% to 100% ownership = $150.00
This premium is addition to the actual license fees of $96.00 plus $10.00 fingerprint fee, ($106.00), for all applicants over the age of 17 and under the age of 70. For those under 18 or over 69 the license fee is $96.00.
If you are unsure of how to calculate the ownership percentages or have any questions please call the WHRC offices at 360-459-6462 in Olympia or 253-931-6372 at Emerald Downs.
% |
Fee |
% |
Fee |
% |
Fee |
% |
Fee |
10% |
$15.00 |
15% |
$23.00 |
20% |
$30.00 |
25% |
$38.00 |
30% |
$45.00 |
35% |
$53.00 |
40% |
$60.00 |
45% |
$68.00 |
50% |
$75.00 |
55% |
$83.00 |
60% |
$90.00 |
65% |
$98.00 |
70% |
$105.00 |
75% |
$113.00 |
80% |
$120.00 |
85% |
$128.00 |
90% |
$135.00 |
95% |
$143.00 |
100% |
$150.00 |
All other Washington tracks have an L&I premium for owners of $15.00 regardless of the number or percent of horses owned.
Receipts for payment of license and labor and industries premiums sent to the WHRC office through the mail are returned by mail to the address of record. You must come to a track that is operating in order to be photographed and receive your WHRC identification card.
Receipts for payment of license and labor and industries premiums sent to the WHRC office through the mail are returned by mail to the address of record. You must come to a track that is operating in order to be photographed and receive your WHRC identification card.
Labor & Industries Coverage Information
Groom/Assistant Trainer
Before coverage will apply to grooms or assistant trainers, the trainers, grooms, and assistant trainers must first be licensed by the WHRC. In addition, trainers must name all grooms and assistant trainers. A trainer can self-cover themselves by obtaining a groom's license.
Trainers will be assessed a monthly premium for each groom, regardless of whether or not that groom or assistant trainer works at the track or the farm, either before, during or after the live racing season.
As has been required for the last several years, all assistant trainers must also obtain a groom's license.
The monthly premium for groom each groom is $188.29. Trainer will be assessed industrial insurance premiums at the end of each month. You only pay as you go. There are no longer any annual premiums that you are obligated to pay, regardless of the number of employees you have over the course of the racing season.
If a trainer fails to pay his/her monthly groom premium by the 15th of the following month, the trainer will be assessed a $100 fine. If after two days the trainer still has not paid the premium or fine, the trainer's licensed will be summarily suspended.
If a trainer employees a groom for less than 15 days and releases the groom, he may hire a replacement groom and only be charged for one premium. Once a groom works for 15 days or more, the entire month premium is due and if after the 14 days the groom is released and then replaced, a second premium would be owed.
If a trainer only needs a groom for a short period of time in a month, for each day you employ a groom or assistant trainer you pay $6.07 (up to 14 days on the 15th day, you will be assessed the full monthly premium).
The monthly premium remains the same for each month you employee grooms, even if you employ a groom either before or after the racing season, or if you use the groom at the track and or the farm or training center.
Grooms and assistant trainers may work for more than one trainer at a time, which will allow trainers to share grooms, and allow grooms to work, even on a one-day short term basis. (Trainers who opt to share a groom must both pay the premium.)
A race track, for the purposes of the Horse Industry Account is defined as a Washington race track, during its licensed race meet and its period of training. At Emerald Downs this period of training starts when the Commission's authority extends to the track as of March 1, 2024. All other locations are considered farms or training centers, even if they are another race track outside the state of Washington, or even a Washington race track, but during a period before the Commission takes over regulating the grounds. For example, at Kennewick, the Commission takes over on the Wednesday before live racing. Any time prior to Wednesday, Sun Downs race track will be considered a farm or training center. These definitions are important for exercise riders and pony riders.
If a groom or assistant trainer is no longer employed, a trainer must notify the WHRC within forty-eight hours. If you fail to report that a groom or assistant trainer has left your employ you will be responsible for any additional premium due (up to the last 48 hours). You can notify the commission by phone or in person. A drop box will be available in the lobby of the Emerald commission office where you can deposit the hire/fire card for the grooms.
At the end of the racing season, all licenses will expire. For example, at the end of September your trainer's license and licenses of all your employees will expire, unless you contact the Commission and ask that those licenses be extended because you want to continue industrial insurance coverage under the horse industry account. If at any time after the season you no longer have any employees covered, your licensed will be cancelled for non-participation.
Exercise Rider - Track Pony Rider
Before coverage will apply to track employees, the trainer, exercise rider, and pony rider must first be licensed by the WHRC.
Trainers will be assessed a monthly premium to cover exercise riders and pony riders working at a Washington race track during its licensed race meet and periods of training. That premium will be based on the number of horses you have on the grounds per day. A trainer can still self-cover themselves by obtaining an exercise rider or pony rider license.
The daily premium per horse, including pony horses is $1.58. In a 30-day month, one horse on the grounds each day will be assessed at $47.40.
As with grooms and assistant trainers, trainers will pay their per horse, per day premium at the end of each month. Again you pay as you go.
It is going to very important that you track the number of horses you have on the grounds each day. At the end of the month you will need to submit your horse count report. From that report, your monthly premium will be calculated and assessed.
At the same time the HBPA will be monitoring the number of horses on the grounds. We will be using the in and out slips as well as doing periodic head counts.
If a trainer fails to pay his/her monthly track employee premium by the 15th of the following month, the trainer will be assessed a fine of $50 per horse, per month. If after two days the trainer still has not paid the premium or the fine, the trainer's licensed will be summarily suspended.
Because premiums are assessed on the number of horses a trainer has per day, exercise riders and track and pony riders may work for more than one trainer at a time.
Each exercise rider and pony rider must obtain either an exercise rider or track or pony rider license. This license only allows them to work at a Washington race track and then only during the track's licensed race meet and periods of training. It does not extend coverage off the grounds, or after the end of the live racing season. For coverage off the grounds exercise riders and pony riders must obtain either an exercise rider or a farm or pony rider license. If they already have a track license, there is not additional license fee for these licenses.
At the end of the live racing season all exercise rider and track and pony rider license will expire. They cannot be extended, unless the rider is going from a Class C track to Emerald.
Exercise Rider - Pony Rider - Farm
Before coverage will apply to farm employees, the trainer, exercise rider, and pony rider must first be licensed by the WHRC. Coverage under the Horse Industry Account to cover exerciser riders and pony riders working at the farms or training center is optional. However, if trainers wish to cover these employees under the horse industry account the trainers must be licensed as well as each exercise rider and farm and pony rider employee. Trainers will be assessed a monthly premium to cover exercise riders and pony riders working at a farm or training center. The premium to cover these employees will be based on the number of employees employed per day.
The daily premium per farm employee is $23.42, regardless of the number of hours these employees work. It is $23.42 per trainer, per employee. For example if three trainers employ an exercise rider to break horses on a day, each trainer will need to be licensed and pay $23.42 per day for that single employee.
A trainer can self-cover themselves by obtaining an exercise rider or pony rider farm license.
A trainer should also tell the Commission the days they intend to employee the rider. If not, the Commission will assume the employee worked each day in the month and assess the daily rate per employee. In a 30 day month, one exercise rider or farm employee premium will be assessed at $702.60.
As with others, trainers will pay the employee premium at the end of each month. Again you pay as you go.
If a trainer fails to pay his/her monthly farm employee premium by the 15th of the following month, the trainer will be assessed a fine of $50 per employee, per month. If after two days the trainer still has not paid the premium or the fine, the trainer's licensed will be summarily suspended.
If at any time an exercise rider or farm or pony rider or farm employee is not employed (no premium paid by any trainer) their license will be cancelled for non participation.
To verify days worked by farm employees the Commission may ask for payroll records from the trainer as well as payroll records from the employees. If a trainer falsely reports all the days a farm employee worked, the Commission may take action, including a fine and if matters continue, the Commission can deny a trainer the ability to have a farm employee.
Again, coverage for farm employees under the Horse Industry Account is optional. Trainers can cover these employees on your individual farm account. It such cases, these employees, including the trainer do not need a WHRC license.
Before coverage will apply to grooms or assistant trainers, the trainers, grooms, and assistant trainers must first be licensed by the WHRC. In addition, trainers must name all grooms and assistant trainers. A trainer can self-cover themselves by obtaining a groom's license.
Trainers will be assessed a monthly premium for each groom, regardless of whether or not that groom or assistant trainer works at the track or the farm, either before, during or after the live racing season.
As has been required for the last several years, all assistant trainers must also obtain a groom's license.
The monthly premium for groom each groom is $188.29. Trainer will be assessed industrial insurance premiums at the end of each month. You only pay as you go. There are no longer any annual premiums that you are obligated to pay, regardless of the number of employees you have over the course of the racing season.
If a trainer fails to pay his/her monthly groom premium by the 15th of the following month, the trainer will be assessed a $100 fine. If after two days the trainer still has not paid the premium or fine, the trainer's licensed will be summarily suspended.
If a trainer employees a groom for less than 15 days and releases the groom, he may hire a replacement groom and only be charged for one premium. Once a groom works for 15 days or more, the entire month premium is due and if after the 14 days the groom is released and then replaced, a second premium would be owed.
If a trainer only needs a groom for a short period of time in a month, for each day you employ a groom or assistant trainer you pay $6.07 (up to 14 days on the 15th day, you will be assessed the full monthly premium).
The monthly premium remains the same for each month you employee grooms, even if you employ a groom either before or after the racing season, or if you use the groom at the track and or the farm or training center.
Grooms and assistant trainers may work for more than one trainer at a time, which will allow trainers to share grooms, and allow grooms to work, even on a one-day short term basis. (Trainers who opt to share a groom must both pay the premium.)
A race track, for the purposes of the Horse Industry Account is defined as a Washington race track, during its licensed race meet and its period of training. At Emerald Downs this period of training starts when the Commission's authority extends to the track as of March 1, 2024. All other locations are considered farms or training centers, even if they are another race track outside the state of Washington, or even a Washington race track, but during a period before the Commission takes over regulating the grounds. For example, at Kennewick, the Commission takes over on the Wednesday before live racing. Any time prior to Wednesday, Sun Downs race track will be considered a farm or training center. These definitions are important for exercise riders and pony riders.
If a groom or assistant trainer is no longer employed, a trainer must notify the WHRC within forty-eight hours. If you fail to report that a groom or assistant trainer has left your employ you will be responsible for any additional premium due (up to the last 48 hours). You can notify the commission by phone or in person. A drop box will be available in the lobby of the Emerald commission office where you can deposit the hire/fire card for the grooms.
At the end of the racing season, all licenses will expire. For example, at the end of September your trainer's license and licenses of all your employees will expire, unless you contact the Commission and ask that those licenses be extended because you want to continue industrial insurance coverage under the horse industry account. If at any time after the season you no longer have any employees covered, your licensed will be cancelled for non-participation.
Exercise Rider - Track Pony Rider
Before coverage will apply to track employees, the trainer, exercise rider, and pony rider must first be licensed by the WHRC.
Trainers will be assessed a monthly premium to cover exercise riders and pony riders working at a Washington race track during its licensed race meet and periods of training. That premium will be based on the number of horses you have on the grounds per day. A trainer can still self-cover themselves by obtaining an exercise rider or pony rider license.
The daily premium per horse, including pony horses is $1.58. In a 30-day month, one horse on the grounds each day will be assessed at $47.40.
As with grooms and assistant trainers, trainers will pay their per horse, per day premium at the end of each month. Again you pay as you go.
It is going to very important that you track the number of horses you have on the grounds each day. At the end of the month you will need to submit your horse count report. From that report, your monthly premium will be calculated and assessed.
At the same time the HBPA will be monitoring the number of horses on the grounds. We will be using the in and out slips as well as doing periodic head counts.
If a trainer fails to pay his/her monthly track employee premium by the 15th of the following month, the trainer will be assessed a fine of $50 per horse, per month. If after two days the trainer still has not paid the premium or the fine, the trainer's licensed will be summarily suspended.
Because premiums are assessed on the number of horses a trainer has per day, exercise riders and track and pony riders may work for more than one trainer at a time.
Each exercise rider and pony rider must obtain either an exercise rider or track or pony rider license. This license only allows them to work at a Washington race track and then only during the track's licensed race meet and periods of training. It does not extend coverage off the grounds, or after the end of the live racing season. For coverage off the grounds exercise riders and pony riders must obtain either an exercise rider or a farm or pony rider license. If they already have a track license, there is not additional license fee for these licenses.
At the end of the live racing season all exercise rider and track and pony rider license will expire. They cannot be extended, unless the rider is going from a Class C track to Emerald.
Exercise Rider - Pony Rider - Farm
Before coverage will apply to farm employees, the trainer, exercise rider, and pony rider must first be licensed by the WHRC. Coverage under the Horse Industry Account to cover exerciser riders and pony riders working at the farms or training center is optional. However, if trainers wish to cover these employees under the horse industry account the trainers must be licensed as well as each exercise rider and farm and pony rider employee. Trainers will be assessed a monthly premium to cover exercise riders and pony riders working at a farm or training center. The premium to cover these employees will be based on the number of employees employed per day.
The daily premium per farm employee is $23.42, regardless of the number of hours these employees work. It is $23.42 per trainer, per employee. For example if three trainers employ an exercise rider to break horses on a day, each trainer will need to be licensed and pay $23.42 per day for that single employee.
A trainer can self-cover themselves by obtaining an exercise rider or pony rider farm license.
A trainer should also tell the Commission the days they intend to employee the rider. If not, the Commission will assume the employee worked each day in the month and assess the daily rate per employee. In a 30 day month, one exercise rider or farm employee premium will be assessed at $702.60.
As with others, trainers will pay the employee premium at the end of each month. Again you pay as you go.
If a trainer fails to pay his/her monthly farm employee premium by the 15th of the following month, the trainer will be assessed a fine of $50 per employee, per month. If after two days the trainer still has not paid the premium or the fine, the trainer's licensed will be summarily suspended.
If at any time an exercise rider or farm or pony rider or farm employee is not employed (no premium paid by any trainer) their license will be cancelled for non participation.
To verify days worked by farm employees the Commission may ask for payroll records from the trainer as well as payroll records from the employees. If a trainer falsely reports all the days a farm employee worked, the Commission may take action, including a fine and if matters continue, the Commission can deny a trainer the ability to have a farm employee.
Again, coverage for farm employees under the Horse Industry Account is optional. Trainers can cover these employees on your individual farm account. It such cases, these employees, including the trainer do not need a WHRC license.
2024 Industrial Insurance Rates - Horse Industry Account
WHRC License Type |
2024 Rates |
Comments |
Owner - Class A or B |
$150.00 |
Annual Premium |
Owner - Class C |
$17.00 |
Annual Premium |
Groom & Asst. Trainer |
$188.29 |
Per Employee/Per Month |
Exercise Rider & Pony Rider - Track |
$1.58 |
Per Horse/Per Day |
Exercise Rider & Pony Rider - Farm |
$23.42 |
Per Employee/Per Day |
Out-of-State Workers Compensation Coverage
If you are hired by a Washington trainer, licensed by the WHRC and go out of state with that trainer, you must work only for that trainer to be covered under Washington State workers' compensation should an on-the-job injury occur in another state.
It has come to the attention of L&I that there are pony riders who are contracting-out work to other pony riders. If you are a pony rider who contracts work out to another pony rider, (i.e., you bill trainers for horses you personally did not pony and/or you pay other pony riders to do work that you billed a trainer) you are advised that you may be considered a subcontractor. Only licensed pony riders who have directly obtained work from licensed trainers are covered under the Horse racing Industry Account. Any pony rider who is injured while performing services for someone other than a licensed trainer will not have his/her claim covered under the Horse racing Industry Account.
Special Note:
If you are an owner who employs exercise rider(s), pony rider(s), groom(s), assistant trainer(s) or other persons at a farm or the racetrack, you must provide your own worker's compensation coverage for these employees. Listing the horses under a trainer's name does not constitute the trainer being the employer under the Horse racing Industry Account. If an injury occurs, a non-trainer who is paying the WHRC licensed employee is responsible for the injury either by another L&I account or personally.
If you are hired by a Washington trainer, licensed by the WHRC and go out of state with that trainer, you must work only for that trainer to be covered under Washington State workers' compensation should an on-the-job injury occur in another state.
It has come to the attention of L&I that there are pony riders who are contracting-out work to other pony riders. If you are a pony rider who contracts work out to another pony rider, (i.e., you bill trainers for horses you personally did not pony and/or you pay other pony riders to do work that you billed a trainer) you are advised that you may be considered a subcontractor. Only licensed pony riders who have directly obtained work from licensed trainers are covered under the Horse racing Industry Account. Any pony rider who is injured while performing services for someone other than a licensed trainer will not have his/her claim covered under the Horse racing Industry Account.
Special Note:
If you are an owner who employs exercise rider(s), pony rider(s), groom(s), assistant trainer(s) or other persons at a farm or the racetrack, you must provide your own worker's compensation coverage for these employees. Listing the horses under a trainer's name does not constitute the trainer being the employer under the Horse racing Industry Account. If an injury occurs, a non-trainer who is paying the WHRC licensed employee is responsible for the injury either by another L&I account or personally.