Starter - Yonkers Raceway - NY

Position Details:

This position is exempt (serves at the pleasure) and works in the Division of Horse Racing and Pari-Mutuel Wagering.

The position reports to work at Yonkers Raceway:
Yonkers Raceway
810 Central Park
Yonkers, New York 10704

Appointment Type: Temporary
Employment Type: Per Diem
Salary: $370.38 – per day
Bargaining Unit: PEF - Professional, Scientific and Technical Services Unit (PS&T)
Work Schedule: Approximately 240 working days including nights and occasional Saturdays (may be required to fill in at additional locations)

Track Racing Schedule: https://empirecitycasino.mgmresorts.com/content/dam/MGM/empire-city-casi...

Duties:

The position is assigned to the Division of Horse Racing and Pari-Mutuel Wagering and reports to the Presiding Judge at Yonkers Raceway:

• Control all horses and drivers participating in the racing program from the formation of the post parade until the word "go" is given to start the race;

• Operate the starting gate in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission;

• Fine drivers for violations of the rules of the start;

• Notify both the drivers and judges of the penalties imposed by the Starter;

• Make recommendations to the Presiding Judge for the placing on the Steward's list of all horses which do not perform properly at the start;

• Conduct such schooling sessions that are necessary to train the horses to the method of starting adopted at the track over which they preside;

• Notify the judges of any breaking horses;

• Assist, as directed by the Presiding Judge, with any accidents that may occur on the track.

Preferred Minimum Qualifications:

• Candidates must have a Starter's License from the United States Trotting Association.

• Candidates must have at least one year of experience in driving or riding in the schooling gate and in schooling horses.

• Candidates must also satisfactorily start at least sixty qualifying races under the supervision of a licensed Starter.

Benefits

• COMPENSATION - Salaries may increase periodically because of contract negotiations.
• HEALTH - A choice of comprehensive health insurance packages (including prescription drug coverage) is available to all employees and their dependents. They also receive the benefits of a dental insurance program and a vision care program.
• LEAVE - Employees of New York State receive generous vacation, personal, sick and family leave benefits.
• RETIREMENT - Employees have the option to contribute a specific percentage of their gross earnings, for all their years of public service after the date of membership. Employees are vested after five years. In addition to retirement benefits, the plan includes a disability retirement benefit, ordinary death benefit and accidental death benefit.
• SAVINGS PLAN - Employees are eligible to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan in which taxes on contributions are deferred until retirement.
• DEPENDENT CARE ADVANTAGE ACCOUNT - This program provides employees the opportunity to pay for child care, elder care or other dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis.

Additional Information

New York State is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Appointment to this position in State government requires candidates to undergo an investigative screening. This includes a thorough character investigation, a Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Record History Check including fingerprinting. The Commission will pay the fee for fingerprinting. All convictions must be disclosed. Depending on the nature of the job, the criminal convictions discovered, or any falsified or omitted information revealed, the investigative findings may bar appointment or result in removal after appointment. Each case is determined on its own merits, consistent with the applicable provisions of state and federal laws.

Reference Checks and Verification of Credentials: It is the Commission policy to verify credentials, education and work experience for the position for which you are being considered. We will also conduct reference checks.

Prior Employment Restrictions: The law that established the Commission (Section 107 of New York’s Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law) prohibits any person from being employed by the Commission if, during the period commencing three years prior to employment, such person held any interest in, or employment by, any corporation, association or person engaged in gaming activity with the State. However, Part BB of Chapter 59 of the Laws of 2019 enabled the Gaming Commission to waive for “good cause” the pre-employment restrictions for a prospective employee whose duties and responsibilities are primarily on racetrack grounds via a resolution that outlines the reasons for the waiver and that there are no other qualified candidates with the desired experience for the specific position.

Prohibition Against Playing and Wagering: Commission employees and family members residing in their households are prohibited from purchasing Lottery tickets or claiming Lottery prizes. Commission employees are prohibited from wagering upon any horseracing, commercial gaming, video lottery gaming, Indian gaming, charitable gaming activities, interactive fantasy sports, and mobile sports wagering within the State. To avoid any appearance of impropriety of conflict of interest, Commission employees will be prohibited from all aspects of promoting, operating, and playing in any charitable gaming, which includes bingo and games of chance such as raffles, whether the organization conducting the game is required to be licensed by the Commission. The prohibition placed upon each Commission employee from assisting with any charitable gaming does not apply to the employee's family unless the employee thinks it presents a conflict of interest related to his or her job duties. Commission employees must also avoid any outside activities that could interfere or be perceived to interfere with their job duties.

Outside Activities and Employment: It is the obligation of every employee of the NYS Gaming Commission to pursue a course of conduct that will not cause public concern as to whether such employee is engaged in activities in conflict with the public trust. It is vital that even the appearance of a conflict of interest be avoided in view of the critical nature of the Commission's responsibilities. In addition, employees should not use Gaming Commission equipment or supplies, or Gaming Commission time to pursue or engage in any such activities. All outside employment and volunteer activities must be approved by the Gaming Commission.

Post -Employment Restrictions: Post-employment restrictions apply to all State Officers and Employees subject to Public Officers Law Section 73. They apply to part-time and seasonal employees, and apply equally regardless of the duration of employment while with New York State. For the two-year period immediately following separation from State service, former State Officers and Employees are prohibited from:

• Appearing or practicing, regardless of compensation, before their former agency, and
• Receiving compensation on behalf of a client in relation to a matter before their former agency

State Officers and Employees may also be subject to a “reverse two-year bar” that requires State officers and employees to recuse themselves from matters involving their former private sector employers for two years after entering State service.

The “lifetime bar” prohibits a former State Officer or Employee from providing services, regardless of compensation, and from rendering services for compensation, in relation to any case, proceeding, application or transaction with respect to which the former employee was directly concerned and in which he or she personally participated or which was under his or her active consideration while in State service.

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.

How and Where to Apply

Email submissions are preferred. To apply please send your cover letter, resume, and copy of accreditation to: hrrecruitment@gaming.ny.gov or mail to NYS Gaming Commission, Human Resources, PO Box 7500, Schenectady, NY 12301-7500. Attention: Joseph Hunter

Please reply by: 8/2/24 or ASAP