The Labor Day weekend is synonymous with Back To School. Apropos of the calendar, those looking to make career changes in(to) the field of horse racing are reminded that education can often aid the transition. This edition will briefly highlight avenues available to those looking to acquire more knowledge and skills.
Veterinarian School
While the lion’s share of horse racing jobs is staffed by those without formal higher education degrees, there is one job for which on the job the training won’t suffice: veterinarian. The variety of options for vets in horse racing is diverse. In addition to racetrack care, vets are vital to the whole lifespan of a horse from breeding to aftercare. Surgical specialists, academic researchers, and regulatory administrators are other career paths for vets.
If you have identified veterinarian as your desired career, the American Veterinary Medical Association has published the Veterinary School Admission 101 primer which helps you prepare for the requisite educational path. The well-defined recommendations address grades, majors, experience, leadership and communication skills, recommendations, and standardized tests. For a listing of each accredited veterinary school's requirements, go to the AAVMC site at www.aavmc.org.
University Programs
For a shorter academic route, there are a handful of equine-relate Bachelor’s degrees. The top most popular programs are the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program (RTIP) and the University of Louisville’s Equine Business Program. RTIP also offers a Master’s option for those who have completed their undergraduate studies. Louisville has a one-year Certificate in Equine Business option and an online Horse Racing Industry Business Certificate.
Not all racing jobs are filled by those with equine or racing degrees. Traditional roles of administration, finance, information technology, legal, and marketing are filled by grads with appropriate experience but not necessarily a degree in a corresponding field of study. For example, I am a racing secretary with a B.Sc. in Zoology from the University of Texas at Austin.
Jockey Schools
Some jockeys enter the sport through jockeys schools in Puerto Rico or Kentucky. In 2020, The BloodHorse profiled the Escuela Vocacional Hipica Agustin Mercado Reveron jockey school in Puerto Rico (EVH). EVH graduates include numerous Eclipse Award Winning Jockeys such as John Velazquez, Jose Ortiz, and Irad Ortiz, Jr. The San Juan-based school includes training at Hipodromo Camarero Racecourse. Interested candidates can contact the school at +1 787-641-6060.
In 2006, Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron founded the North American Racing Academy (NARA), now offered through BCTC Equine, the first and only community college-based racehorse riding certificate in the United States. In the semester prior to riding school BCTC students complete courses in Introduction to the Racing Industry, Equine Care Lab, and Training Principles & Practices. The jockey school partners with Keeneland and Thoroughbred Training Center. For more information, contact BCTC Equine Program Coordinator, Dixie Kendall, at dixie.kendall@kctcs.edu.
Trade Schools
For those with training in ‘The Trades,’ there are often employment opportunities at larger racecourses for carpenters, electricians, painters, and plumbers. There are also equine trades to consider such as farriers. While there are a couple of options for becoming a farrier, the premier choice is the Oklahoma Horseshoeing School (OHS), founded in 1973, where more than 85% of Oklahoma Horseshoeing School graduates go on to become gainfully employed in the horse industry. The OHS offers 2-/8-/12-week classes and continuing education. A variety of tuition loans, grants, and subsidies are available for OHS students.
Self Improvement
As cinematographer Conrad Hall said, “you are always a student, never a master. You have to keep moving forward.” The acquisition of new knowledge is a way to level up your skills improving your ability to find the next job. I will assert that two things will help your horse racing resumes stand out: speaking a second language and knowing spreadsheets.
Both Babbel and Duolingo, offer online language training. The addition of Arabic, Chinese, French, Japanese, Korean, or especially Spanish might open more doors in your next job search. For those with horse racing desk jobs, the ability to use Microsoft Excel and/or Google Sheets is a tool to add to your kit. Microsoft offers free Excel classes online on edX to learn both fundamental and advanced Excel skills. Skillscouter lists several free Google Sheets courses.
Good luck in your endeavors to learn new skills to help your horse racing job search.
Highlighted Opportunities
Jobs posted under Highlighted Opportunities are those sent directly to the newsletter by the employer. For those hiring who would like to have their positions included in the newsletter, please email me, ovals at yahoo dot com, with “StandingStart Jobs” in the subject field.
Employer: Prairie Meadows Racecourse
Opportunity: Racing Admin Assistant
Source: Prairie Meadows
Posted: 2022-09-02
Description: Company Job Posting
Zia Park
Opportunity: Assistant Starter/Valet
Source: Penn Entertainment
Posted: 2022-08-30
Description: Company Job Posting
Employer: Zia Park
Opportunity: Clocker
Source: Penn Entertainment
Posted: 2022-08-30
Description: Company Job Posting
Employer Zia Park
Opportunity: Track Maintenance
Source: Penn Entertainment
Posted: 2022-08-30
Description: Company Job Posting
Employer: Zia Park
Opportunity: Stall Superintendent
Source: Penn Entertainment
Posted: 2022-08-30
Description: Company Job Posting
Opportunities
The Opportunities section is a curated listing of positions harvested from the internet. The subjective selections are meant to demonstrate the diversity of available horse racing jobs and are in no way meant to be complete and exhaustive.
Employer: FanDuel
Opportunity: Acquisition Strategy & Planning Director
Source: Indeed
Posted: 2022-09-06
Description: Indeed Job Posting
Employer: FanDuel
Opportunity: Software Engineer - Racing
Source: FanDuel
Posted: 2022-09-05
Description: Company Job Posting
Employer: New York Racing Association
Opportunity: Van Driver
Source: LinkedIn
Posted: 2022-09-05
Description: LinkedIn Job Listing
Employer: Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort
Opportunity: Maintenance - Backside
Source Indeed
Posted: 2022-09-03
Description: Company Job Posting
Employer: Keeneland
Opportunity: Security Associate
Source: Indeed
Posted: 2022-09-03
Description: Company Job Posting
Employer: Turf Paradise
Opportunity: Track Security
Source: Adzuna
Posted: 2022-09-02
Description: Adzuna Job Posting
Employer: Lone Star Park
Opportunity: Mutuel Teller
Source: Glass Door
Posted: 2022-09-01
Description: Glass Door Job Posting
Employer: Lone Star Park
Opportunity: Test Barn Escort
Source: LinkedIn
Posted: 2022-09-01
Description: LinkedIn Job Posting
Employer: Churchill Downs Incorporated
Opportunity: Seasonal Camera Operator
Source: Churchill Downs
Posted: 2022-08-17
Description: Company Job Posting