Horseplayers Get Shout-Out as Regulators Meet

Horseplayers will determine the success or failure of racing, regulators were told during a two-day training program held recently at Emerald Downs and the Seattle Thompson Hotel in Washington.

The program, coordinated by the Association of Racing Commissioners International, was held to ensure that regulators and staff understand what has been described as "the many moving parts of the sport of horse racing," ARCI president Ed Martin said. Regulatory jurisdictions in Canada, the Caribbean, and the United States sent regulators to participate in the training, which is offered periodically by the ARCI.

ARCI chair Judy Wagner, a member of the Louisiana State Racing Commission who is also the horseplayer representative on the National Thoroughbred Racing Association board of directors, spoke to the group about the importance of horseplayers and urged regulators to always consider the fact horseplayers ultimately will determine the success or failure of the sport.

"The players want to be able to trust that they are participating in an honest, fair game," she said.

Regulators participated in sessions that dealt with drug testing, pre-race veterinary examinations, the role of various track officials, rulemaking, ethics and conflict of interest matters, tote system operations, licensing, transparency, statutory limits on jurisdiction, and the conduct of hearings.

Martin said he would like to expand the regulator training program and indicated ARCI would consider invitations from racing jurisdictions to schedule training sessions for their regulators and racetrack staff in their jurisdictions.

The Washington State Racing Commission, Emerald Downs, the South Dakota Commission on Gaming, and the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau made presentations during the program.