Paddock Judge

Essential Job Functions:

• Responsible for all of the activities in the saddling paddock on race day including supervision of assembling of the horses scheduled to race.
• Ensure that only authorized persons are permitted in the paddock
• Maintain a written record of all equipment, including inspection of all equipment of each horse saddled, and report any changes to the stewards for approval.
• Report any observations of unusual or illegal activities to the stewards
• Radio to make sure that the tractors are clear before sending the field to the track.
• Ensure that the saddling of all horses is orderly, open to public view, free from public interference, and that horses are mounted at the same time, and leave the paddock for the post in proper sequence.
• Coordinates the scheduling of training/schooling races, compiling training races from the sign-up sheet and distributing the training race schedule to media, racing officials and horsemen.
• Responsible for training races including
• Drawing the horses into training race schedule for paddock schooling
• Calls riders to saddle walking ring area in order to put horses on the track
• Notes horses that are unruly and/or difficult to saddle, placing the horses on a paddock list which requires schooling in the paddock to be removed from the list; until taken off.
• After schooling races, inputting the preference date for training race horses that were approved by the stewards
• The paddock judge shall maintain a list of horses which shall not be entered in a race because of poor or inconsistent behavior in the paddock that endangers the health or safety of other participants in racing.
• Write on the walks on the saddling board located in the paddock judges office and make sure the valets are aware of any pertinent information about a horse he/ she will be saddling.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• Completion of high school diploma or GED
• Applicants with a college degree may be preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Basic understanding of regulatory requirements of horse racing
• Strong written, oral communication and leadership skills required.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form
• Skill in data entry with minimal errors
• Operational Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite products (Strong computer skills to include effective working knowledge of Microsoft Office Products such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)
• Prior experience with Race Track Manager preferred
• Work independently and in a team environment
• Ability to recognize, analyze and solve a variety of problems
• Demonstrate ability on completing assignments accurately and with attention to detail
• Ability to be resourceful to aid in horsemens requests
• Ability to work a flexible and irregular schedule including weekends, evenings and holidays
• Ability to enter a smoke-filled environment as needed

Training and Experience:

• Must be able to pass Title 31 Training
• 2 years of clerical/administrative experience
• 1-2 years with horse racing operations preferred.

Licenses/Certifications/Other:

• Must be able to pass a background check and receive a license or permit from any Regulatory Agency if applicable to perform the essential job functions
• Must be able to complete a pre-employment drug test with a negative result

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the workday in an office setting.
• The person in this position needs to occasionally move about and constantly position self; inside the office, areas of the race track, barns, and grandstands.
• Constantly operates a computer, keyboards, copier, printer fax machine, multi phone line system, 10 key calculator, another office equipment.
• Occasionally ascends/descends stairs and or ramps on a continual daily basis.
• Must be able to exchange accurate information with racing staff, vendors, horsemen and others.
• Must be able to observe potential obstacles in office and areas in and around racetrack.
• Frequently moves equipment weighing up to 25 pounds to areas around the racetrack and in office area.
• Exposed to both indoor and outdoor weather conditions.
• Noise level- moderate level exposure such as heavy machinery or loud announcement speakers.
• Frequently walking, standing, climbing stairs, and/or ramps on a continual daily basis.
• Occasionally stooping, bending in office environments.
• Using fingers, hands to touch, feel, grab, on as needed basis.
• Exposed to both indoor and outdoor weather conditions.
• Constantly positions self around areas of the racetrack, barns, offices, and grandstands.
• This person in this position frequently communicates with horsemen and staff. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Consistently exposed to livestock on a routine basis