Presiding Judge

Position Details

 

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

 

The position reportstoworkatYonkers Raceway:

Yonkers Raceway

810 Central Park

Yonkers, New York 10704

 

Appointment Type:     Temporary

Employment Type:     Per Diem

Salary:                         $453.77 – per day

Bargaining Unit:          M/C – Management/Confidential (Unrepresented)

Work Schedule:          Approximately 240 working days (may be required to fill in at additional locations)

 

Track Racing Schedule: https://empirecitycasino.mgmresorts.com/content/dam/MGM/empire-city-casino/racing/pdfs/calendar/empire-city-casino-racing-yonkers-racing-calendar.pdf

 

Duties

 

Asthe Presiding Judge, you would have all authority over all horses and persons, licensed or unlicensed, on association or franchise corporation grounds during a race meeting as to all matters relating to racing; determining all questions, disputes, protests, complaints or objections concerning racing which arise during a race meeting and enforcing such determinations; conducting hearings on all questions, disputes, protests, complaints or objections concerning racing matters.  This position is provided authority under the racing laws, rules and regulations.Specific duties include:

 

•           To be the principal representative of the New York State Gaming Commission at the assigned race meeting;

•           To supervise the associate judges, starter, paddock judge, supervising veterinarian, and other New York State Gaming Commission employees at the track;

•           To supervise the licensing procedure;

•           To supervise the handling of entries and declarations to start and the application of preferences to race and the coupling of horses accepted for entry;

•           Conduct the drawing of post positions for the racing card;

•           Finalize all driver changes prior to scratch time;

•           Provide a daily report of racing activities to the Director of Racing Officials;

•           Closely observe the performance of all horses and drivers competing at the race meeting and determine the result of every race contested and to determine the order of finish;

•           To investigate apparent or possible interference or rule violations;

•           To uphold the rules and regulations of the New York State Gaming Commission;

•           Impose fines and suspensions;

•           To supervise the preparation, delivery and posting of all notices of penalty, rulings and decisions, and other reports as required;

•           To testify when necessary.

 

Preferred Minimum Qualifications

 

• Candidates must have a Presiding Judge license issued by the United States Trotting Association or the Racing Officials Accreditation Program and be in good standing;
• Candidates must also have either a minimum of ten years experience as a harness owner, trainer, driver, groom or racing official, with at least three years as an Associate Judge at a licensed pari-mutuel track; or two years (with a minimum of 200 race dates per year) as an Associate Judge with the New York State Gaming Commission;
• Candidates must be able to communicate with horsemen effectively and professionally at all times;
• Candidates must be able to work live racing dates and draw dates, with various start and end times

 

Benefits

 

• COMPENSATION-Salariesmay increase periodicallybecause of contract negotiations.
• HEALTH -Achoice of comprehensivehealth insurance packages(including prescriptiondrug coverage)isavailable toall employees and theirdependents. They alsoreceivethe benefits of adentalinsuranceprogramanda vision care program.
• LEAVE-Employeesof NewYork Statereceive generousvacation, personal,sick and family leavebenefits.
• RETIREMENT- Employees arerequired tocontribute aspecificpercentage oftheirgross earnings, for all their yearsof publicservice after the date of membership.  Employees are vested after five years. Inadditiontoretirement benefits, theplan includes adisability retirementbenefit, ordinarydeath benefit and accidentaldeath benefit.
• SAVINGSPLAN -Employees are eligible toparticipate in the Deferred Compensation Plan in which taxesoncontributionsaredeferred untilretirement.
• DEPENDENTCAREADVANTAGE ACCOUNT -Thisprogramprovidesemployeesthe opportunity topay forchild care,elder care or otherdependentcare expenseson a pre-tax basis.

 

AdditionalInformation

 

NewYork State is anEqualOpportunity Employer.

 

Appointment to this position inState government requirescandidates toundergoan investigativescreening. Thisincludesa thorough character investigation, a Federal Bureau of Investigation CriminalRecord History Checkincludingfingerprinting.The Commission will pay the fee for fingerprinting. All convictionsmust bedisclosed.Depending onthe nature of the job,the criminalconvictionsdiscovered, or any falsified or omitted information revealed,the investigative findingsmaybar appointmentorresultin removal after appointment.Each case is determined on itsownmerits,consistent with the applicable provisionsofstateand 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.

 

PriorEmploymentRestrictions:The lawthat establishedtheCommission (Section 107of NewYork’sRacing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and BreedingLaw)prohibits any person from beingemployed bytheCommission if,duringthe periodcommencingthreeyearsprior to employment, such personheld any interest in, oremployment by, anycorporation, association orperson engaged in gamingactivity 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.

 

ProhibitionAgainstPlayingand Wagering:Commission employees and familymembers residing in theirhouseholdsare prohibited frompurchasingLottery tickets orclaiming Lottery prizes.Commission employees are prohibited fromwagering upon anyhorseracing, commercialgaming, Indian gaming andcharitable gamingactivities within theState. The prohibition against wageringupon any horseracing,commercialgaming, Indian gaming and charitable gamingactivitieswithinthe State,however, doesnotapplytofamily membersof Commission employees. Toavoid any appearance ofimproprietyof conflict ofinterest, Commission employees will be prohibited fromall aspectsof promoting, operating, and playingin anycharitable gaming, which includes bingoandgamesof chancesuch asraffles,whetherthe organization conductingthegame is required to be licensed by the Commission. Theprohibition placedupon eachCommission employee fromassistingwith any charitable gamingdoes not apply to the employee'sfamily unlessthe employee thinksit presentsaconflict of interest related tohisorherjob duties.Commission employees must also avoid any outside activities thatcould interfereor beperceived to interfere with their job duties.

 

Outside Activities and Employment: It isthe obligation ofevery employee of the NYS GamingCommission topursue acourse of conduct that will notcause publicconcern asto whethersuch employee isengaged in activitiesin conflict withthe publictrust.It is vital that even the appearanceof aconflictof interest beavoided in viewof thecriticalnature of the Commission'sresponsibilities. In addition, employeesshould notuse Gaming Commission equipment or supplies, orGamingCommission timetopursue or engage in any such activities.All outside employment and volunteer activities mustbeapprovedby the Gaming Commission.

 

Post -EmploymentRestrictions:Post-employment restrictionsapplytoall State Officersand EmployeessubjecttoPublic OfficersLawSection 73.They apply to part-time andseasonal employees, and apply equally regardlessof theduration ofemployment whilewith NewYork State.  For thetwo-year period immediately following separation fromStateservice,former StateOfficersandEmployeesare prohibited from:

 

• Appearing orpracticing,regardlessof compensation, before their formeragency, and
• Receivingcompensation on behalf of aclient inrelation toa matter beforetheir former agency

 

StateOfficersandEmployeesmay alsobesubject toa “reversetwo-year bar”that requires State officersand employeestorecuse themselvesfrom mattersinvolving their former privatesector employersfor twoyearsafter entering Stateservice.

 

The “lifetime bar” prohibitsa former StateOfficeror Employee fromproviding services, regardlessofcompensation, andfromrenderingservicesforcompensation, in relation to any case,proceeding, application ortransaction withrespect towhich the former employee was directly concernedand in whichhe orshe personally participatedor which was under his or her activeconsideration 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.

 

HowandWhere toApply

 

Email submissions are preferred. To apply please send your cover letter, resume, and copy of accreditationto:hrrecruitment@gaming.ny.govor mailtoNYS GamingCommission, Human Resources, PO Box 7500, Schenectady, NY 12301-7500. Attention: Joseph Hunter

 

Please reply by:3/31/24