Racing Official 1 / Seasonal / Part-Time

This posting may be used to fill more than one position. 
 These positions will be learning several positions' duties to provide backup where needed.

Schedule:  This is a seasonal position working Wednesday-Sunday (days, nights, weekends, and holidays) and is expected to last from May-September,.  Schedule hours may vary based on live race schedule. The hours of work will range from early morning to late evening, week-ends and holidays.

Must be able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays per racing schedule.

About the Commission:
WHRC is comprised of three voting members (a chairperson and two commissioners) appointed by the Governor, and four non-voting ex-officio members (two members of the Senate and two members of the House of Representatives).  The commission appoints an Executive Secretary and staff to carry out its assigned duties and the day-to-day operation of the WHRC.  For more information about the agency, go to http://www.whrc.wa.gov.
As the agency responsible for regulating pari-mutuel horse racing in Washington State, the Washington Horse Racing Commission (WHRC) is committed to maintaining public's confidence in the integrity of the sport. 

What you will be doing:
This position's duty station will be at Emerald Downs in Auburn, WA. You may be responsible to perform various racing official duties. The primary duty for this position will be to train as the backup for the receiving barn clerk. As experience dictates to be cross trained in other official positions such as, Photo Finish Operator, Clocking Duties, Identifier, Clerk of Scales, and Paddock Judge.

Why you would want this position:
If you love horses and the sport, this is a great way to do what you love.  Not only will you be in the great outdoors around the excitement, but you are key in the safety of the animals and the integrity of the game. 

Paddock Judge:

• Supervise the assembly of horses in the paddock for each race at the designated time. 
• Verifies that each horse that enters the paddock has the correct groom smock and proper equipment. 
• Inform the stewards of any discrepancies, unusual equipment or changes. 
• Ensure the saddling of all horse is orderly and in a safe manner by properly licensed trainers.
• Assemble jockeys and horses at a designated time for the post parade.

Clerk of Scales:

• Check the weight that each horse is carrying for accuracy in the Daily Racing Form. 
• Be present in the jockey’s quarters prior to the designated time when the riders must report their weights, by the designated time, verify the weight each jockey will carry for the day’s races, and assist in securing the jockey’s quarters to restrict the presence of unauthorized personnel. 
• Notify various departments of all over-weights, changes, and scratches. Prior to each race, check the riders weight to ensure each one carries the proper weight. 

Receiving Barn Clerk

• Keep stewards informed of any irregularities or delays that may occur. 
• Prepare and maintain the receiving barn for the day’s races by cleaning the walking ring and the individual stalls, leveling and hosing down the walking area of the receiving barn. 
• At the appropriate time make the 10-minute, 5-minute and final call over the public address system to bring the horses to the receiving barn. 
• Observe the horses and grooms while they are walking in the receiving barn to make sure they are following safety procedures. 
• At the designated time, send the horse from the receiving barn to the paddock.

Identifier: 

• Inspect registration papers on each horse scheduled to compete at the race meet to ensure the proper identification of the horse.   
• Establish the location of each horse and personally check the markings and tattoo number on the horse to make sure they are accurate. 
• Obtain the race day reports to establish the identification information on the horses scheduled to race each day. 
• When the horses arrive in the receiving barn, examine every starter to observe the horse’s sex, color, markings and lip tattoo or other identification criteria approved by the appropriate breed registry and the commission with comparison to its registration certificate to verify the horse’s identity.
• Immediately following the actual identification, the identifier makes sure the groom is wearing the correct smock and that the correct head number is positioned correctly on the horse. 

Clocker: 

• Receive workout information from the trainers, enter the horses name and the distance they are working on the daily workout sheets.   
• Observe the horses on the track and identify which horse is going to work. 
• When the horse begins the work, time the workout.   
• When the horse completes the workout, record the time of the work on the workout sheets. 
• In addition to clocking the horses, the clockers must watch for emergency or unsafe situations on the track.  

Photo Finish Operator: 

• Set up Photo Finish computer system and Electronic Race Timer system. 
• Respond appropriately to equipment malfunctions, seeking assistance when necessary and ensuring equipment is fully operational prior to the start of each race card. 
• When the races begin, activate the cameras at the correct time to ensure the finish of each race is properly recorded. 
• Using the computer program, process the order of finish photos and forward them to the steward’s computer.  
• If the finish results in a photo finish, tag and label the photo and make it available to the association for video transmission to the public.   

Mutuel Inspector: 

• Analyze the wagering reports generated by the tote system for each race, checking for any irregularities.  
• Make sure all payoffs are within the formula ranges. 
• Run the specialized report on the wagering patterns as requested by the stewards.  
• Monitor and verify all contracts and signals for import and export wagering. Develop and conduct random and scheduled tests of the computer program that calculates the odds and payoffs to determine that the calculations are accurate. Monitor the mutuel lines observing for any problems or irregularities. Observe the tote system video feeds for all the racetracks that are wagered on at Emerald Downs to assure that all links and stop betting are functioning properly.

License Clerk:

• Issue licenses and credentials to participants: enter data, including criminal history, given by applicants into agency licensing database verifying identification.  
• If necessary, take the applicants’ fingerprints and send fingerprints via live scan to the appropriate authority.  
• Track employees of licensed trainers and update records, groom slots and provide information to stakeholders. 
• Maintain official records regarding horse racing including bill of sales, apprentice jockey certificates, leases, stable names, authorized agents, claims, trainer transfers, stewards, and paddock lists. 
• Perform general office duties such as answering and directing incoming telephone calls, filing, processing mail, sending faxes, etc.   
• Available to answer questions and receive complaints from licensees, applicants, stakeholders, and customers.  
• Calculate and deposit daily receipts and monies and send deposit information to OFM and Olympia office of WHRC.

REQUIRED:

High school diploma or equivalent, 

AND

Three years of experience in the pari-mutuel horse racing industry

OR

A Bachelor’s degree in Equine Administration and experience in the horse racing industry

Equivalent education/experience. 

AND

• Able to learn and understand the language and concepts of DEI culture and commit to being a part of creating and maintaining a diverse, equitable, respectful and inclusive workplace. 
• Demonstrate a commitment to growth, learning and self-awareness when provided training and opportunities to participate in improving our work environment.
• Participate and behave in a manner that creates trust and builds working relationships, promoting teamwork and collaboration in the work environment.
• Demonstrate the understanding that all people are valued; contribute to an equitable, inclusive and respectful environment when working with members of the group, team, organization or community.
• Commit to being an active participant in continually evaluating and improving strategies that promote equity and inclusion in our organization.
• Models and champions, our culture and values; cultivates a shared, strategic vision; develops people; drives results; fosters learning; builds relationships; fosters teamwork and collaboration; communicates effectively; makes things happen as a public servant; leads and navigates change; embraces and embeds inclusion in decision making.

PREFERRED:

ROAP Stewards Accreditation

How to Apply
To begin the online application process, click on the green "Apply" button at the top of this announcement.

NOTE:  By submitting application materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed.  A resume will not substitute for completing the “duties summary” section of the application.  Please do not refer to resume for detail, or your application may be disqualified. 

Union Inclusion:

This position is included in a bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). 

The Washington Horse Racing Commission celebrates our differences and we are committed to a workplace that supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, families with children (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as an individual with the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with disabilities or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws. 

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our organization.

Persons with a disability who need assistance with their application or need this announcement in an alternative format, may call (360) 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960.

Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.  

To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact Angie Anderson at (360) 407-8446 or email jobs@des.wa.gov 

For information or questions about this recruitment, please email amanda.benton@whrc.wa.gov 

Salary : $3,477 - $4,632