accreditation program

The Racing Officials Accreditation Program (ROAP), which accredits and provides continuing education to all racing officials, stewards, and judges in racing, will hold its annual accreditation school for stewards and judges at California's Los Alamitos Race Course from Sept. 11-18. The course, which includes 60 hours of schooling, provides classroom instruction as well as time shadowing officials. Curriculum covers both Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing, as well as harness racing. The accreditation school is open to all applicants who meet and complete the registration requirements by Aug. 12. In addition,...

The Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation (TRF), which cares for more than 500 retired Thoroughbreds and is the oldest Thoroughbred rescue in the country, has had an additional seven locations accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) after receiving the honor for farms in Florida and Virginia late last year. To achieve accreditation, an organization must meet rigorous equine care requirements, undergo site visits, and adhere to standards regarding sustainability, ethical principles, finances, staffing, and more. The TRF farms newly accredited by GFAS are Blackburn Second Chances, in addition to...

The Racing Officials Accreditation Program (ROAP) staged its first live-online, 16-hour continuing education course (CE) Dec. 14 -15. The event, hosted by the University of Louisville, was attended by racing stewards, judges and officials from 17 states, Abu Dhabi, Canada, and Trinidad/Tobago and covered topics ranging from media and crisis communication training to racehorse aftercare awareness to the Horse Racing Safety & Integrity Act 2020. CE courses are designed to bring officials together to discuss both the cutting-edge industry issues as well as those faced on a daily basis. All...