Tim Smith resigned as NTRA commissioner effective Sept. 1. Breeders' Cup president D.G. Van Clief Jr. was appointed interim commissioner.The NTRA board is scheduled to next meet Dec. 2 in New York City.
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association will take a leadership role in the refinement of wagering security and infrastructure, its board of directors decided at a third-quarter meeting Sept. 24 in Dallas.The NTRA board adopted a resolution authorizing the NTRA to establish a National Office of Wagering Security, which was recommended by Giuliani Partners in the wake of the 2002 Breeders' Cup Ultra Pick 6 fraud. Other entities have since pushed hard for a centralized database for wagering information and a general upgrade in tote technology.The board also established a "transition and executive committee" chaired by board member Robert Clay. It is charged with developing a chief executive profile that matches up with strategic priorities in 2005 and beyond. Other committee members are Craig Fravel, vice president of Del Mar; Jim McAlpine, president of Magna Entertainment Corp.; and John Roark, president of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.
