Columbus, OH – The two-day Racing Officials Continuing Education Seminar, presented by the U.S. Trotting Association and held at The Meadows racetrack, concluded Monday (Nov. 22). The meeting was hosted by USTA COO TC Lane and Racetrack Operation and Licensing Manager Michele Kopiec.

USTA Racetrack Operation and Licensing Manager Michele Kopiec leading the discussion at Sunday’s first day of the ROAP Continuing Education Seminar held at The Meadows. USTA Photo.

There was a busy agenda with a wide variety of subjects discussed by the group of 35 officials representing 12 different states.

“It was a great meeting with a lot of discussion, debate and exchange of ideas,” said Lane. “It was a packed agenda of important topics and the attendance and participation was probably the best we’ve seen since the USTA started hosting the continuing education seminars.

“We’d like to thank The Meadows for hosting the meeting and everyone who attended,” added Lane.

The opening session on Sunday morning (Nov. 21) commenced with a presentation by Kopiec on Fines and Suspensions and eTrack updates made by the USTA. The second half of the morning agenda featured Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission Presiding Judge Doug Thomas, Indiana Harness Racing Commission Associate Judge Kevin Gumm, New Jersey Racing Commission Associate Judge Mickey Peterson, and Mike Woebkenberg, Starter at Dayton and Miami Valley Raceway and many County Fairs throughout Ohio and Indiana, who led a lively discussion of interference rules, accidents and consistency in judge’s decisions.

After lunch, USTA Director of Marketing and Communications Dan Leary talked about the importance of media and public relations, social media, crisis communications and the important role that officials play in communicating with bettors and racing fans. The group participated in an interactive, group exercise during the second half of the session.

Day one ended with a presentation by Delaware Standardbred Owners Association Executive Director Sal DiMario of an explanation of rules and regulatory issues with particular emphasis on the potential impact of the recently announced details of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority regulations.

Lane and Kopiec opened the second day of the seminar on Monday morning (Nov. 22) with a discussion of microchips and racetrack reporting through eTrack.

Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission Director of Enforcement Jason Klouser was next up to explain to the officials about investigations and available resources.

Indiana’s Gumm returned to the floor to take the group through an analysis about reviewing races to complete the morning session.

The afternoon agenda began with a review of the most recent rule change proposals that have been submitted to the USTA Board of Directors for consideration at their annual meeting in March.

The finale of the two-day meeting was a roundtable discussion that included topics such as driving styles, the use of modified whips in Minnesota, communication with chart takers and an assortment of other varied topics of interest to the officials.

To maintain accreditation, all accredited racing officials, stewards and judges, must attend a continuing education session approved by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program totaling at least 16 credit hours every two years. The ROAP CE is available to any accredited racing official, steward or judge.