After about 13 months on the job, Dwight Manley has submitted his resignation
as national manager of the Jockeys’ Guild.
“My decision to resign was not an easy one, but a necessary one,” Manley
explained in his resignation letter. “I’m a single father of two children, and I
cannot commit the time that the Jockeys’ Guild deserves from its national
manager and fulfill my obligations to my family.”
An accomplished sports agent, real estate developer and prominent rare coin
collector, Manley was appointed by the Guild’s board of directors in July of
2006.
He served without compensation and personally loaned the organization $500,000
to help it avoid bankruptcy.
“Mr. Manley became national manager at a time of crisis for our
organization,” Guild Chairman John Velazquez said. “He saved the Guild. Under
his leadership, we have now stabilized our finances. We appreciate all of his
efforts and his achievements as our leader in dealing with the industry and
achieving a sound financial basis for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.”
In a press release, Manley cited the accomplishments he achieved during the
past year for the 1,100-member organization, which included improving the
financial and political strength of the organization as well as settling
lawsuits with former Guild member and paralyzed jockey Gary Birzer and Churchill
Downs Inc.
“When I accepted the position of national manager, the Guild was in a
precarious position and its ability to survive, at best, was uncertain,” Manley
said. “I decided to do something about it, even though I knew it would be an
enormous commitment on my part. Since then I have worked tirelessly and
accomplished key objectives.
“Based on my relationships that I forged with jockeys over the past year, my
decision to resign was one of the most difficult I’ve ever made. I truly feel
honored to have been given the privilege to work with the board and the entire
Guild membership. I firmly believe that now is the time for the Guild to have a
more ‘traditional’ national manager; someone who is salaried, works out of the
Guild’s office and has the ability to devote 100 percent of their time to the
Guild’s future.”