Turfway Park has promoted Tyler Picklesimer to the position of director of racing and racing secretary for the Northern Kentucky Thoroughbred racetrack.
Picklesimer had been Turfway's assistant racing secretary since 2002. He replaces longtime secretary Rick Leigh.
Nationally accredited by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program through the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program, Picklesimer will oversee Turfway's holiday and winter/spring meets, which run December through March.
"I have been fortunate to work some of the premier race meets and signature events in racing," said Picklesimer. "I have been even luckier to work for excellent racing secretaries who were great teachers of both the sport and the business of horse racing. I am looking forward to building upon those experiences and working with our horsemen and management team to produce a successful meet."
"Tyler has been our assistant racing secretary for 11 years and is thoroughly familiar with our racing program and the horsemen," said Turfway Park general manager Chip Bach. "He has a great relationship with the (Kentucky Horse Racing) Commission and with the HBPA (Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association). He has a talented staff to support him, and we're excited that we could offer him this opportunity and that he has accepted."
A 1994 graduate of Northern Kentucky University, Picklesimer was hired by Turfway Park that year as a placing judge. He has additionally served Turfway as an alternate association steward, clocker, and paddock judge. Picklesimer also is an association steward at Ellis Park and has filled that same role at Keeneland and The Red Mile. He continues to fill various roles at Keeneland and at Churchill Downs, including alternate association steward, paddock judge, placing judge, and stakes coordinator.
In 2008 Picklesimer earned the dual position of director of racing and racing secretary for the Thoroughbred meet at Colonial Downs in New Kent, Va., a role he also will continue with. He also serves the Virginia Racing Commission on several committees.
