A breakaway racehorse trainers’ group is looking at launching its own public liability insurance, describing current cover as less than satisfactory.

NSW Trainers’ Association President Anthony Cummings told insuranceNEWS.com.au cover for trainers through the Australian Trainers’ Association (ATA) is inadequate.

“We are talking to different brokers and underwriters to try to make the policy more realistic in today’s climate,” he said. “We are also exploring the possibility of the NSW Trainers’ Association establishing its own policy.”

At its annual conference in Melbourne last week the ATA unanimously voted to retain its current public liability insurance underwriter and broker arrangements for the 2009/10 racing season.

The ATA says the arrangements for trainers “could not be bettered either on cost or overall benefits”. It offers a public liability limit of $20 million, no excess, and a sub-limit liability for care custody or control of $5 million for any one trainer.

But Mr Cummings says one of their trainers is currently before court as the cover does not appear to protect them when buying horses on behalf of owners in the yearly sales.

“While the trainer thought he had protection for this it was not adequate.”