Organization of Racing Investigators to hold training conference

Photo by Laurie Asseo.

From an Organization of Racing Investigators release

The Organization of Racing Investigators (ORI) will hold its annual Training Conference at historic Tampa Bay Downs, February 26 to March 1, 2017. A wide variety of speakers and presenters will be at the conference.

“We are fortunate to have our 2017 venue at Tampa Bay Downs,” said Deanna Nicol, Tampa Bay Downs Director of Security and current ORI Chair.

Since 1991 ORI has held annual training conferences to discuss best management practices related to safety, security and integrity to the industry. Weeding out people that do harm to the sport remains a paramount goal.

The speakers have been selected with the intention of keeping the topics current, addressing today’s challenges and combining an opportunity for attendees to network and discuss common problems with the intention of finding solutions.
Guest speakers include Tracey Pelling of the Queensland Police Service Racing Crime Squad, Steven Koch of the NTRA, the Stronach Group’s Michael Rogers, Stacie Clark Rogers of the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium’s Dr. Dionne Benson are among the industry professionals that will address the attendees.

In addition, workshops will be conducted regarding inspections, quarantine procedures and Safety Stewards working in conjunction with investigators ensuring equine health and safety.

In operation since 1926, Tampa Bay Downs became a member of the Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America in 1967.  The track leadership of president-treasurer Stella F. Thayer and vice-president-general manager Peter N. Berube has guided Tampa Bay Downs into a successful pari-mutuel facilities with a competitive overnight and stakes racing program.