“There were officials in attendance from Arkansas, Delaware, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, the National Steeplechase Association, the Jockey Club and the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America,” said John F. Wayne, the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission (DTRC) executive director.

The two-day, 16-hour program included a panel of keynote speakers that was facilitated by Stan Bowker, chairman of the Racing Officials Accreditation Program; Hugh Gallagher, executive director of the Delaware Harness Racing Commission; and Wayne.

DTRC Chairman Bernard Daney said, “Officials that participate in continuing education programs such as this display a commitment to excellence by them personally, and their jurisdictions, that helps ensure the highest quality of officiating in the sport of horse racing. John Wayne and Hugh Gallagher put on a good program twice a year that is always well attended. I received a lot of compliments from the attendees that enjoyed the program and the diversity of topics that were covered.”

Delaware Park’s Executive Director of Racing John Mooney welcomed the group to Delaware along with Daney. On the panel of keynote speakers were the following:

• Delaware Commission veterinarians John Peters and Kathleen Picciano, who talked about race-day examinations and the national injury reporting system that tracks horses and any medical concerns

• Dr. Lawrence Soma of the University of Pennsylvania at New Bolton Center, who spoke about blood doping oxygenation agents and abused medications

• Dr. Scot Waterman, Racing Medication and Testing Consortium executive director, who gave an update on the activity of the consortium programs and what’s on the radar screen for drug detection

• Barbara Gadbois, Esq., deputy attorney general and counsel to the Delaware Stewards, who talked about case preparation, due process and appeals

• Andrew Kerber, Esq., deputy attorney general and counsel to the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission, who gave an overview of the rule promulgation process, appeals and Superior Court cases of interest.

The program also included a review of interesting racing films and discussion that was led by Maryland Harness Presiding Judge Paul Tishuk. Thoroughbred races and discussion were led by Stan Bowker, a senior steward at Arkansas and Indiana race tracks.

According to Wayne, “Delaware has been an educational hub of sorts in hosting yearly ‘round tables’ where officials can gather to find solutions to common problems that face regulators.”