Experience Criteria | Racing Officials Accreditation Program

FLAT RACING

(1) The minimum experience qualifications for Flat Racing Accreditation Level III (base level) are:

(a) At least 225 race days of experience, as a licensed racing official as defined by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program;
- steward,
- racing secretary,
- director of racing,
- assistant racing secretary,
- horse identifier,
- patrol judge,
- paddock judge,
- clerk of scales,
- starter,
- placing judge,
- official/regulatory veterinarian or
- other racing official as designated by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program.
- Graduates of the University of Louisville or University of Arizona with a bachelor's degree in the Racetrack/Equine Industry Program or completion of the University of Louisville Equine Industry Program Certificate in Equine Business shall receive credit for 100 days of experience and thus must complete only 125 additional days as a licensed racing official.
- Participants in the ROAP Apprenticeship Program shall receive credit for up to 60 days of the apprentice program.
- If an individual has never worked in the racing office, the ROAP Certificate Course is strongly recommended; or

(b) Individuals who were licensed as a trainer in the pari-mutuel horse racing industry for five or more years may receive credit for days of experience for years where they had 100 or more starts as a licensed trainer. The credit is as follows:
- (i) 5 to 9 years: a credit of 75 days and thus must complete only 150 additional days as a licensed racing official; or
- (ii) 10 to 14 years: a credit of 125 days and thus must complete only 100 additional days as a licensed racing official; or
- (iii) 15 or more years: a credit of 175 days and thus must complete only 50 additional days as a licensed racing official or completion of ROAP Apprenticeship Program.

For the avoidance of doubt, no credit is received for any year where the trainer did not have at least 100 starts; or

(c) Individuals who were licensed as a jockey in the pari-mutuel horse racing industry for five or more years may receive credit for days of experience for years where they had 200 or more starts as a licensed jockey. The credit is as follows:
- (i) 5 to 9 years: a credit of 75 days and thus must complete only 150 additional days as a licensed racing official; or
- (ii) 10 to 14 years: a credit of 125 days and thus must complete only 100 additional days as a licensed racing official; or
- (iii) 15 or more years: a credit of 175 days and thus must complete only 50 additional days as a licensed racing official or completion of ROAP Apprenticeship Program.

For the avoidance of doubt, no credit is received for any year where the jockey did not have at least 200 starts.

If (a), (b) or (c) is not applicable, a person may request (in writing) satisfaction of the minimum experience qualifications for Flat Racing Accreditation Level III pursuant to one or both of the following experience criteria and by providing documentation supporting that request.

(d) Presently employed as a Steward/Judge for a length of time in the opinion of the Racing Officials Accreditation Program to meet the requirements above; or

(e) Experience in the horse racing industry of a character and for a length of time sufficient, in the opinion of the Racing Officials Accreditation Program, to meet the requirements above.

To submit a petition for experience review under (1) (d) or (e), individuals must prepare a personal statement which thoroughly explains their experience in the racing industry. Positions, dates, and number of live racing days worked (if applicable) must be included. Anything previously provided to ROAP, such as former letters of recommendation or work experience will already be included. Additional letters of recommendation, a resume, job descriptions, and any other supporting documentation may also be submitted.

ROAP staff will present the documentation to the ROAP Education Committee for review at their next scheduled meeting. The ROAP Education Committee meets approximately once every two months and decide experience petitions by majority vote.

*Note: Days worked as a Steward to meet the minimum requirements under section (1) can be counted toward the 50 days required to achieve Flat Racing Accreditation Level II status.

(2) The minimum experience qualifications for Flat Racing Accreditation Level II are:

Has met the experience requirements of Flat Racing Accreditation Level III (a, b, c or d); and
Has worked at least 50 racing days as a Steward during the past three years, and
all continuing education requirements are current.

(3) The minimum experience qualifications for Flat Racing Accreditation Level I are:

Has met the experience requirements of Flat Racing Accreditation Level III (a, b, c or d); and
Has at least five years' experience AND 200 racing days as a Steward, and
all continuing education requirements are current.

HARNESS RACING

(1) The minimum experience qualifications for Harness Racing Accreditation Level III (base level) are:

(a) At least 225 days, of experience as a licensed racing official as defined by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program;
- judge,
- racing secretary,
- director of racing,
- assistant racing secretary,
- horse identifier,
- patrol judge,
- paddock judge,
- clerk of course,
- charter,
- program director,
- starter,
- official/regulatory veterinarian or
- other racing official as designated by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program.
- Graduates of the University of Louisville or University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in the Racetrack/Equine Industry Program shall receive credit for 100 days of experience and thus must complete only 125 additional days as a licensed racing official within 10 years.
- Participants in the ROAP Apprenticeship Program shall receive credit for up to 60 days of the apprentice program; or
(b) Individuals who were licensed as a trainer in the pari-mutuel horse racing industry for five or more years may receive credit for days of experience for years where they had 100 or more starts as a licensed trainer. The credit is as follows:
- (i) 5 to 9 years: a credit of 75 days and thus must complete only 150 additional days as a licensed racing official; or
- (ii) 10 to 14 years: a credit of 125 days and thus must complete only 100 additional days as a licensed racing official; or
- (iii) 15 or more years: a credit of 175 days and thus must complete only 50 additional days as a licensed racing official or completion of ROAP Apprenticeship Program.

For the avoidance of doubt, no credit is received for any year where the trainer did not have at least 100 starts; or

(c) Individuals who were licensed as a driver in the pari-mutuel horse racing industry for five or more years may receive credit for days of experience for years where they had 200 or more starts as a licensed driver. The credit is as follows:

(i) 5 to 9 years: a credit of 75 days and thus must complete only 150 additional days as a licensed racing official; or
(ii) 10 to 14 years: a credit of 125 days and thus must complete only 100 additional days as a licensed racing official; or
(iii) 15 or more years: a credit of 175 days and thus must complete only 50 additional days as a licensed racing official or completion of ROAP Apprenticeship Program.

For the avoidance of doubt, no credit is received for any year where the driver did not have at least 200 starts.

If (a), (b) or (c) is not applicable, a person may request (in writing) satisfaction of the minimum experience qualifications for Harness Racing Accreditation Level III pursuant to one or both of the following experience criteria and by providing documentation supporting that request.

(d) Presently employed as a Judge for the length of time in the opinion of the Racing Officials Accreditation Program to meet the requirements above; or
(e) Experience in the pari-mutuel racing industry of a character and for a length of time sufficient, in the opinion of the Racing Officials Accreditation Program, to meet the requirements listed.

*Note: Days worked as a Judge to meet the minimum requirements under section (1) can be counted toward the 50 days required to achieve Harness Racing Accreditation Level II status.

(2) The minimum experience qualifications for Harness Racing Accreditation Level II are:

Has met the experience requirements of Harness Racing Accreditation Level III (a, b, c or d); and
Has worked at least 50 racing days as a Judge during the past three years, and
all continuing education requirements are current.

(3) The minimum experience qualifications for Harness Racing Accreditation Level I are:

Has met the experience requirements of Harness Racing Accreditation Level III (a, b, c or d); and
Has at least five years' experience AND 200 racing days as a Judge, and
all continuing education requirements are current.

The USTA has additional educational opportunities and requirements such as those listed below. Please contact the USTA for additional information

The USTA will continue to license other officials and offer educational programs for these officials. Officials who wish to qualify for accreditation as stewards/judges must hold a valid USTA officials license thereby meeting all licensing requirements of the USTA in order to qualify for accreditation as a steward/judge.

Candidates for presiding steward/judge must have at least 150 days of experience as an associate judge as defined by the United States Trotting Association (USTA).

Candidates for associate steward/judge must have at least 150 days of experience as a licensed racing official as defined by the USTA (i.e.; racing secretary, identifier, clerk of course, program director, patrol judge, paddock judge or other racing official as determined by the Racing Officials Accreditation Program).

NATIONAL STEEPLECHASE ASSOCIATION:

(1) The minimum experience qualifications for NSA Accreditation Level III (base level) are:

Has passed all of the required exams, and
has observed for at least three meets in the Stewards’ Stand, and
all continuing education requirements are current.

(2) The minimum qualifications for NSA Accreditation Level II are:

Has met the experience requirements of NSA Accreditation Level III, and
has worked a minimum of 3 NSA race meets as a Steward, and
all continuing education requirements are current.

(3) The minimum qualifications for NSA Accreditation Level I* are:

Has met the experience requirements of NSA Accreditation Level III, and
Has at least 3 years of experience and has worked a total of 12 racing days as NSA Accreditation Level II, and
all continuing education requirements are current.

*This is the most experienced level of accreditation. This position is designated by NSA Steward Advisory Board yearly.

**Policy updated March 2019 - Formalization of the petition process for experience review

**Policy updated June 2018 - Clarification of trainer/jockey/driver experience

**Policy updated on December 2017 - Apprenticeship days and jockey/trainer experience

**Policy updated on June 2016 - UL EIP Certificate and Retake exams