Safety Officer

Primary responsibilities:

ensure racing, training, and stabling activities are compliant with state and federal regulations, integrity standards, safety standards, and accepted animal husbandry practices.

• Monitor barn area and observe daily habits and practices of backside licensees; ensure proper animal husbandry practices and sanitation practices; report deficiencies to Stewards or Equine Medical Director.
• Enforce fire safety rules within all restricted areas.
• Monitor for compliance with race day medication regulations, report any questionable practices to Stewards, Investigators, or Equine Medical Director.
• Resolve eligibility issues arising from the "HISA Daily Enforcement Report".
• Enforce compliance with all HISA Racetrack Safety rules and standards, particularly with regard to use of approved riding crops during racing and training; photograph use of non‑compliant whips and provide all information necessary for the Stewards to follow‑up.
• Proof daily race program for compliance with all applicable eligibility rules, including 240‑day layoff rule, run back rules, 30‑month layoff rule, 45‑day workout rule or 60‑day race rule, and 6‑year‑old maiden rule.
• Walk barn area each morning to ensure "in‑today" sign protocol is being followed. Confirm identity of several horses via microchip scan. Immediately report any discrepancies to Stewards and Investigators.
• Observe saddling activities in the paddock to ensure compliance with applicable rules, regulations, and safety protocols.

• Occasionally shadow and observe race day Lasix administrations.
• Monitor stable gate in/out slips to ensure no horses are leaving the grounds once they have made the overnight.
• Spot‑check the work of the Paddock Blacksmith to ensure compliance with all applicable horseshoe rules.

• Investigate all equine fatalities occurring on association grounds. May include interviews with attending veterinarians, jockeys/exercise riders, trainers, and stable employees. Present investigation findings on prescribed form to Senior State Steward and Equine Medical Director.
• Administer written test for new trainer applicants.
• Audit safety protocols at Starting Gate and Equine Ambulance.
• Be available to assist Test Barn and Regulatory Veterinarians with claimed horses.
• Conduct pre‑meet safety inspections of starting gate and equine ambulance. Monitor ambulance and medical personnel protocols for horses and riders.
• Serve as a member of the Racetrack Safety and Welfare Committee.
• Upon request, assist Regulatory Veterinarian with follow‑up on horses that have been placed on Vet's List or are otherwise barred from training, or have been vanned off the track during racing or training.
• Substitute in Stewards' Stand, as needed.
• Be available to assist with/witness OOC and tCO2 testing.

• Five years racing regulation or track management required.
• Proven equine health awareness a must.
• ROAP Stewards accreditation preferred.

Time allocation (race days):
Mornings: approximately 65% in barn area (in‑today program, shadow Lasix administration, barn inspections, etc.); 25% administrative in office (proofing, in/out verifications, 10% observing training activity, starting gate/schooling activity, etc.). Afternoons: approximately 65% in barn area observing pre‑race routines; 20% in saddling paddock observing work of valets, horse identifier, trainers, and Paddock Blacksmith; 15% "other" duties, as required by circumstances (fatality/injury follow‑ups, starting gate observation, assisting other officials as needed).

Time allocation (dark days):
Approximately 70% administrative/office work (trainer tests, proofing, list maintenance, financial responsibility complaints, etc.), 30% barn area and training activities.