The Racing Officials Accreditation Program (ROAP), which accredits and provides continuing education for stewards, judges and racing officials in cooperation with the universities of Arizona and Louisville, today announced the dates of two upcoming continuing education seminars.

On March 4, the National Steeplechase Association (NSA) will hold a steward’s seminar at the NSA headquarters in Fair Hill, Md.

On March 16 and 17, ROAP, in cooperation with the University of Louisville, will coordinate a continuing education seminar for racing stewards and judges at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla.

“In order to maintain their accreditation, stewards and judges must complete at least 16 hours of continuing education every two years,” said ROAP Chairman Stan Bowker. “Focusing on specific points of emphasis during these seminars promotes consistency of officiating across jurisdictions so that, ideally, stewards and judges at different tracks handle certain situations in the same manner.”

Additional information about the NSA steward’s seminar is available by contacting Bill Gallo at info@nationalsteeplechase.com. Additional information about the seminar at Tampa Bay Downs is available by contacting Terri Burch at tjburc01@gwise.louisville.edu.

At the most recent continuing education seminar, which was coordinated by ROAP, the Texas Racing Commission (TRC) and the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) on February 8 and 9 at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas, 40 participating stewards, veterinarians and commission staff heard presentations and discussed a wide range of important topics, including:

• Regulating wagering security
• Stewards hearings, rulings, and extenuating circumstances
• Developing race meet best practices
• Uniform weighing of jockeys
• Reciprocity of vet, starter, and stewards lists
• Use of the whip and riding crops
• Drug classifications and penalties for rule violations
• Prohibited drugs and therapeutic medication issues
• Race film analysis

Presenters were Mark Fenner, TRC chief legal counsel; Sammy Jackson, TRC deputy director for wagering security; Dr. Scot Waterman, RMTC executive director; Stan Bowker, ROAP chairman; and Braulio Baeza Jr., NYRA steward.

“With multi-state participation and the attendance of the regulatory veterinarian community, discussions were particularly meaningful and instructive,” said TRC Executive Director Charla Ann King. “The meeting also focused on the integrity of the pari-mutuel wagering network, specifically addressing ways that stewards can help increase the security of the wagering pools. We appreciate very much the job that ROAP and RTIP have done to help us all improve the regulation of pari-mutuel racing.”

ROAP, which receives primary funding from The Jockey Club and is based in its Kentucky office, is a 501(c) (6) organization whose board of directors is made up of representatives of 18 industry organizations. Stewards and judges receive their accreditation and continuing education credits through this program. Rich Wilcke at the University of Louisville and Wendy Davis at the University of Arizona direct the schools and training used in achieving accreditation.

The ROAP website, horseracingofficials.com, features information about the accreditation process, a comprehensive listing of accredited racing officials, job openings, and upcoming events. Contact Cathy O’Meara at (859) 224-2702 or cmcneeley@jockeyclub.com for more information.