Juan Dominguez and Tim Kelly will serve new roles as New York Racing Association Safety Stewards as part of a four-person Safety and Integrity Team dedicated to enhancing existing safety protocols at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course.
Dominguez and Kelly will complement a unit that includes current Safety Steward Hugh Gallagher and Jean Claude Jaramillo, NYRA's Equine Investigator Specialist.
The newly formed team will consult and advise stakeholders on matters relating to overall safety and integrity, including a focus on the health and welfare of equine athletes, jockeys and exercise riders. The Safety and Integrity Team will specifically focus on maintaining and expanding best practices during morning training, afternoon racing, and in the barn areas at NYRA tracks in coordination with the New York State Gaming Commission.
“The addition of Juan and Tim will bolster and reinforce our commitment to safety and integrity as key members of a strong team. Each of these four individuals bring a unique perspective and skill set to the job,” said Martin Panza, NYRA's Senior Vice President of Racing Operations. “This will allow us to have more boots on the ground and increase coverage at all three facilities to ensure a safer working environment, as well as further enhancing the integrity of the sport.”
Dominguez joined NYRA in 2000 and is in his fifth decade in racing overall in different capacities, including trainer, jockey agent, investigator and, since 2017, an alternate steward.
Kelly has served as NYRA's Clerk of Scales since 2005 before joining the Safety and Integrity Team. With more than 35 years of experience in the racing industry, Kelly earned a reputation as an accomplished trainer with 314 career wins to his credit from 1984-01.
Sal Russo, who previously served as Assistant Clerk of Scales, has been promoted to Clerk of Scales.
Gallagher, a longtime steward and a former chairman of ROAP, joined NYRA in April 2014 to fill the newly created position of Safety Steward, among the first of its kind in the country at the time.
Jaramillo, who joined NYRA in 2011, is the Vice Chair of the Organization of Racing Investigators.
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