by Steve May, Vice President and Business Manager, Association of Racing Commissioners International

Lexington, KY — Noting over 20 years of service to the racing industry in Minnesota, Richard “Dick” Krueger was honored with the 2011 Len Foote Award by the Association of Racing Commissioners International.

Presenting the award was the 2010 recipient, Charla Ann King, the since-retired executive director of the Texas State Racing Commission.

RCI photo

Pictured from left to right are Dan Hartman, 2010-2011 RCI chair; Richard Krueger, executive director, Minnesota Racing Commission; Charla Ann King, former executive director, Texas State Racing Commission; and Ed Martin, RCI president.

The award was presented at a ceremony during the 77th annual Conference on Racing and Wagering Integrity, recently held at the Le Pavillon Hotel in New Orleans.

The Len Foote Award is presented annually to a racing commission executive director for his or her outstanding contributions to the racing industry. The award is named in honor of the late Len Foote, longtime executive director of the California Horse Racing Board, and is considered the highest distinction for racing officials in North America and the Caribbean.

In presenting the award, King noted, “Dick has done a tremendous job in Minnesota, helping to build a great flat racing program at Canterbury Park, and recently helped implement Standardbred racing at Running Aces Harness Park. Along every step of the way, he has always kept the integrity of racing as his top priority.”

In accepting the award, Krueger described the “huge honor” he felt being chosen for the award by his colleagues, and stated, “The staff of the Minnesota Racing Commission deserve the real credit, because they make my life much easier on a day-to-day basis.”

RCI President Ed Martin also gave out special Certificates of Merit to five individuals that have “made great contributions to the regulation of racing.” Those recognized include:

• Rick Goodell, regulatory attorney for the New York State Racing and Wagering Board, for his drafting of Model Legislation and promoting Interstate Racing Compact legislation in New York and elsewhere.
• Lisa Underwood, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, for her work in promoting Interstate Racing Compact legislation in Kentucky.
• Dan Hartman, executive director of the Colorado Racing Commission, for his work in promoting Interstate Racing Compact legislation in Colorado.
• Larry Eliason, executive secretary of the South Dakota Commission on Gaming, for his continued work to support the RCI Model Rules process.
• Carol Olewin, pari-mutuel compliance auditor for the Texas State Racing Commission, for her work on improved tote standards.