National Racing Compact Creating Online Portal in 2021
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Horsemen who already enjoy some streamlining in licensing procedures through use of the National Racing Compact may soon enjoy an even smoother process after the organization's board authorized creating a new online licensing portal.
The NRC is a national licensing program formed in 2000 that allows participants to be issued a license recognized in 26 racing jurisdictions. Lexington-based NRC plans to work with a local web development company to create the new web platform this year with a goal to launch it in the fourth quarter.
Some 3,000 licensees, mostly owners but also some trainers, currently use the NRC. The new web platform could spur more to join as the improved system will allow licensees to apply for a National Racing License, add and pay for new states, and manage their existing National Racing License.
"We hope it'll kind of change things and take the burden off of folks," said NRC executive director Patrick Thompson.
Rather than apply for a state racing license every time a horseman decides to compete in another jurisdiction, the NRC allows submission of a single application along with one set of fingerprints to generate a National Racing License. The successfully completed application is good for three years and the fingerprints are good for life.
The online portal looks to further streamline the process.
"With the online licensing portal, applicants will be able to fill out their application online," Thompson said. "They'll be able to add states and pay for states online. They'll be able to do everything to manage their racing license other than fingerprints. There'll be a fingerprint requirement."
Outside of the one-time fingerprint requirement, the new system largely will automate the entire process.
The NRC is accepted in 26 jurisdictions which include Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Thompson said with multiple states represented on the NRC board, they were able to put forth the needed criteria for the site to follow.
"As long as we follow that criteria, these folks will be licensed across all those states," Thompson said. "It only made sense that this was the next logical step—kind of catch up with modern technology. Folks will be able to do this from their desktop or from their smartphones."
The Compact is empowered to set standards for individual licenses, accept applications and fingerprints, analyze criminal history information and issue a national license which will be recognized by all member states and other states that may elect to recognize the license.
Participants need only to complete one license application and provide one set of fingerprints instead of duplicating the licensing process in each state. Once approved for the national license, a participant then pays only a participation fee in each state in which the national licensee wishes to race.