Officials and Their Functions
Racing Secretary
This individual is in charge of the Racing Office, supervises all
the race officials at the track where a meet is being held, writes
all the races for the meet, and oversees the "draws."
Paymaster of Purses
This official is in charge of all the race meeting's financial
receipts and disbursements (i.e., purses and awards, entrance money,
nominating and entry fees, claiming money, fines, and jockeys'
fees), and is responsible for keeping records of horsemen's on-track
accounts and transactions. The Paymaster also notifies the state's
racing commission of any licensee who is in arrears to the state or
to the racing association, and keeps the required records of
partnerships, assignments of interest, registrations of authorized
agents, and lease agreements.
State Veterinarian
This is the veterinarian who supervises all licensed vets practicing
on the grounds of the track, and oversees the well-being of all
horses racing or working at that track. He or she runs the receiving
and detention barns. In addition, the State Vet enforces the rules
and regulations of the state racing commission regarding illegal
medications and contaminants; supervises or performs all blood - and
urine-test on specified horses; assists in conducting barn-searches
(for illegal substances and equipment); and participates in the post
mortems of - and investigations into - injuries or deaths of any
horses working or racing at the track. (The State Veterinarian, also
known as the "Official" veterinarian, may not directly treat or
prescribe treatment for any horse on the grounds except in an
emergency).
Racing Veterinarian
The Racing Veterinarian's several duties include:
1.
examining all horses before they enter their first race (at the
meet) to determine their soundness and fitness for racing. (The
Racing Vet may prohibit any horse he or she considers "unfit" from
racing until such time as the horse gains a good condition.)
2.
Besides assisting the State Vet in covering "morning rounds," the
Racing Vet accompanies the horses all the way from the paddock
through the parade to the starting gate, reporting to the stewards
any horse in questionable physical condition.
3.
This vet follows and observes (from the ambulance van) the racing
horses, and examines any mounts which appear to be in physical
distress after the race. (The Racing Vet has the authority to have a
horse placed on the Vets List, and is expected to recommend to the
stewards the placement of horses on the Stewards List.)
4.
Last, it is the Racing Vet's responsibility to administer emergency
treatment to racing horses in the event of an accident or injury.
This vet has the authority to humanely destroy - on the spot - any
animal which is, in his or her opinion, injured beyond repair.
Track Veterinarian
This designation refers to a specially-appointed vet at a track
other than the one where the meet is being held, and who inspects
horses being vanned in from that track in cases when the horses will
not be arriving in time for the State Veterinarian's early morning
rounds. (No horse can race if it has not been checked by a
State-appointed vet on the morning of the race.)
Stewards
These officials are charged with supervising the actions of all
licensees operating at the track and with governing the conduct of
the race meeting "in every particular." Their jurisdiction extends
to suspending licenses, levying fines and even barring individuals
from the racetrack. They also sit as judges on medication
violations, and are the final arbiters of photo finishes and
objections during a race. They are, incidentally, the individuals
who - peering at the gate from their booth above the track -
physically hit the button which locks the mutuel betting machines at
the moment the gate opens.
