The inaugural certificate program offered by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program, designed to provide hands-on training to entry level racing officials, is scheduled for Sept. 28-29 at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights, Ill.
ROAP has a steward and judge accreditation program hosted through the universities of Arizona and Louisville. Currently, 70% of race days in the U.S. are adjudicated by a panel of three accredited stewards and 99% of race days are monitored by a least one ROAP-accredited steward, according to a ROAP release.
ROAP said its certificate program is designed for anyone interested in becoming a racing official or for someone interested in learning about what goes on in the racing office. The two-day course includes classroom and hands-on training. Participants will select one of the following positions in which to earn a certificate good for five years: horse identifier, paddock judge, patrol/placing judge, outrider, starter/assistant starter, or clerk of scales. The cost of the program is $25, and it will be available to a limited number of applicants as space permits.
The ROAP release said the next certificate programs are tentatively scheduled for Delaware Park and Churchill Downs later this fall.