Steward - New York State Gaming Commission

Position Details

This positon is exempt (serves at the pleasure) and works in the Division of Horse Racing and Pari-Mutuel Wagering. The position rotates to work at the following NYRA Thoroughbred Tracks:

Aqueduct Racetrack, 110-00 Rockaway Boulevard, Jamaica, NY 11420 (Queens County); Belmont Park, 2150 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont, NY 11003 (Nassau County); Saratoga Race Course, 267 Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866 (Saratoga County).

Appointment Type:     Temporary

Employment Type:     Per Diem

Salary:                         $0 – Salary commensurate with experience

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

Work Schedule:          Approximately 300 working days

Travel Percentage:     30%

Duties

As the Steward, 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:

• Enforce the rules and regulations of the New York State Gaming Commission.
• Exclude or excuse from racing any horse which is unfit; to order testing of any horse for presence of drugs from unsoundness; to cancel or revoke entries; to have supervision over all entries and declarations.
• Make determinations on all disputed matters connected with award of purses, nullifying results of a race, disqualification of contesting horses.
• Rule on any objection to any decision of an official; to receive and/or hear complaints against any official; to receive or to make objection to results of a race.
• Hold hearings to establish validity of objections to results of a race; to impose punishment for any violation of agency rules.
• Make and/or approve arrangements for conduct of the meet.
• Exercise control over all grounds of the track; to exclude any person from the grounds, and/or impose penalties against such person, for prescribed offenses.
• Ensure that all participants in racing are licensed at the specific track.
• Ensure the fingerprinting of all participants who require a license at the specific track.
• Collect and keep track of all licensing applications and fees for participants. This includes but is not limited to, license applications for the following: owners, trainers, jockeys, exercise riders, grooms, racing management and the track employees, and veterinarians.
• Supervise and provide direction to all Gaming Commission personnel at the race track including those in the test barn.
• Oversee the entering of all relevant participant licensing data into databases which includes the Horse Racing Application and License Tracking (HALT) Access database. This data base is for the Racing Division and tracks all licensing including fines and suspensions for both thoroughbred and harness tracks in NYS. This database also interfaces with other systems which are viewable to the public including: Equine Breakdown, Death, Injury and Incident Database; Gaming Commission Ruling Database; Equine Steroid Administration Log (ESAL); Current Horse Racing Licenses Database.
• Oversee the inspection of all occupational licenses, applications, conviction records, requested financial records, personal references, and other pertinent records relevant to track licenses and participating in racing.  Ensures the necessary records are available to the State Steward, State Steward (Alternate) and Gaming Commission management and investigators.
• Provide information to owners, trainers, and jockeys on license maters by mail, e-mail, telephone or in person at the race track office.
• Prepare all required equine reports in relation to each race meeting.
• Assist the racing investigators to provide any data in relation to any investigations which may be occurring inclusive of the licensing review.
• Ensure timely processing of the time sheets of per diem employees by supervising or actively entering the data as a timekeeper into the appropriate time sheet.  This includes meeting deadlines, acting as a liaison between the office and Gaming HRM, and assisting in obtaining sign off from appropriate supervisors.
• Ensure timely communication to per diem employees at the respective track regarding relevant policy, procedures and/or messages from the Gaming Commission.  Ensuring material in relation to these areas is posted on the bulletin board at the respective track as directed by Gaming Commission management and/or HRM. Ensure orientation material is provided and collected from the per diem employees as directed by HRM.
• Ensure the population and maintenance of the NYSGC Horses of Interest Database and support them in all matters pertaining to the promotion and improvement of equine health, welfare and safety.

Preferred Minimum Qualifications

• Candidates must have an accreditation from an approved Racing Official Accreditation Program at Level I. Examples of Approved Accreditation programs include: The University of Louisville or the University of Arizona. Candidates must maintain their Continuing Education: 8-16 credit hours; 16 hours are required every two years to remain in good standing.
• Experience in the horse racing industry as a licensed racing official, jockey, trainer or other similar position.
• Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• New York State residence is not required. However, you must be legally eligible to work in the United States at the time of appointment and throughout your employment with New York State. If appointed, you must produce documents that establish your identity and eligibility to work in the United States, as required by the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, and the Immigration and Nationality Act.

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 are required 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.

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 horse racing, commercial gaming, Indian gaming and charitable gaming activities within the State. The prohibition against wagering upon any horse racing, commercial gaming, Indian gaming and charitable gaming activities within the State, however, does not apply to family members of Commission employees. 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.

How and Where to Apply

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