The Racing Officials Accreditation Program (ROAP) has developed an On Call
Stewards Program so that a designated racing official will be available during
telecasts of major racing events to explain the rules of racing if an unusual
event occurs in a race.
“The On Call steward will be non-judgmental, meaning he or she is not there
to make a determination one way or the other on any incident,” ROAP Chairman
Stan Bowker said. “Instead, the On Call steward will explain in layman’s terms
the nature of the incident, the applicable rules of racing and the process by
which stewards determine a call as it pertains to the incident in question.”
The On Call Stewards Program will make its debut at Quarter Horse racing’s
October 31 Challenge Championships at Los Alamitos and will also be available at
the Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Oak Tree at Santa Anita on November 6
and 7.
The initial group of On Call stewards will be composed of senior stewards
Eddie Arroyo, Stan Bowker, Hugh Gallagher, Frank Lamb, Denny Oelschlager and Kim
Sawyer, each of whom has completed media training sessions.
The On Call Stewards Program, sponsored by Breeders’ Cup Ltd. and the
American Quarter Horse Association, is modeled on the American Association of
Equine Practitioners’ (AAEP) On Call Veterinarian Program. Since 1991, AAEP
veterinarians have been available at major races to appear on telecasts and at
press conferences in the event of injury and explain in layman’s terms the
condition of the injured horse and the medical care it is receiving.
“The AAEP’s On Call Veterinarian Program has been a tremendous asset to the
industry by providing clarity on racing telecasts when an injury has occurred,”
Bowker said. “ROAP’s On Call Stewards Program can become a similar asset in
terms of educating the public of the rules of racing and helping racetracks
emphasize the measures in place to protect the integrity of horse racing.”
“We are excited to enlist the services of an On Call steward during the 2009
Breeders’ Cup World Championships and feel it can only enhance coverage of the
event should there be a situation that requires a clear and concise explanation
of the rules of racing,” said Pam Blatz-Murff, senior vice president of
Breeders’ Cup racing. “It’s reassuring to know an On Call steward will be on
site just in case a situation arises that needs clarification, or to provide
expert commentary on the regulation of horse racing.”