ROAP

Stan Bowker, a longtime management executive who also served as a steward at several racetracks, passed away Sept. 10 in Clearwater, Florida after a long illness. After 17 1/2 years at Ak-Sar-Ben in Omaha, Nebraska where he rose to become the director of racing, Bowker made stops at Canterbury Downs and Will Rogers Downs. He was also a senior steward at Colonial Downs and spent 11 years as a judge at Oaklawn Park, Indiana Grand, and as recently as 2021, at Canterbury Park. Bowker established a consulting company to assist...

Over the next fortnight, board members of the Organization of Racing Investigators (ORI) will participate in a new exchange program, which features an intensive tour of hallowed racing sites in Ireland and England. "The new program is a continued effort by the ORI to exchange tradecraft and weigh how integrity is protected in different countries across the world," said ORI's immediate past chairman Jason Klouser. The small group, which includes Klouser, Tyler Durand, J.C. Jaramillo, Juan Estrada and David Duncan, will make stops at The Curragh, Leopardstown and Coolmore. Fellow...

The Organization of Racing Investigators (ORI) will convene its annual training conference for specialists with a reception Sunday Feb. 26, 2023 in Tucson. Hosted by the University of Arizona, which is home to the Race Track Industry Program (RTIP), the event brings together members from the U.S. and Canada, but also an international contingent of investigators and security personnel from Europe and South Africa that will participate in a series of sessions over the course of Monday Feb. 27 and Tuesday Feb. 28. A membership administrative meeting will take place...

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,...

John Herbuveaux and Daryl E. Parker were recognized as the 2021 Pete Pedersen Award by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program (ROAP) at the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program's Global Symposium on Racing and Gaming Awards Luncheon in Tucson, Arizona Tuesday. The award is presented to stewards who have demonstrated professional excellence, integrity, and benevolent consideration in the performance of their duties. Contributions of time and expertise to the horse racing industry on the local and national levels are also significant factors in the selection of Pedersen award winners....

The Racing Officials Accreditation Program's (ROAP) board of directors elected its 2022-2023 officers during its Dec. 6 board meeting, held at the Global Symposium on Racing in Tucson, Arizona. Dr. Jennifer Durenberger, The Jockey Club Steward for NYRA, was elected ROAP chairperson; Frank Lamb, a ROAP-accredited steward was elected ROAP vice chairperson; Wendy Davis, former director at the University of Arizona RTIP was re-elected ROAP secretary; and Kristin Werner, senior counsel at The Jockey Club, was re-elected ROAP treasurer. "I am thrilled to take the reins of this organization at...

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...

Due to the circumstances surrounding COVID-19, the Racing Officials Accreditation Program (ROAP) announced that it has extended the dates for completion of required continuing education (CE) hours by one year for all accredited racing officials, stewards, and judges. Those who have already completed CE hours this year will be credited and their renewal date moved forward accordingly. Originally scheduled for July 6-13, the ROAP Accreditation School, hosted by the University of Louisville Equine Industry Program and the CE program scheduled the same week, have been canceled. If possible, the program...

The Stronach Group has announced that industry executive Steve Koch has been appointed Senior Vice President of Racing for The Stronach Group. "We are thrilled to have Steve join our team at this pivotal moment in our sport," said Belinda Stronach, chairman and president of The Stronach Group. "Steve has a proven track record as an executive committed to safety and integrity in racing that is fully in line with our company's priority to put horse and rider safety at the forefront." Koch will work in tandem with the company's...