Assistant Starter

Location: New Orleans, LA, US, 70119. Property: Fair Grounds Race Course Slots OTB & Casinos. America's second oldest horse racing track, the Fair Grounds has been a New Orleans staple since 1852. We are a premiere entertainment venue presenting thoroughbred & exotic animal races, slots, video poker and simulcasting year-round. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 13 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana.

About the role

Is a support role for the Head Starter, working directly with horses and the starting gate to ensure races begin safely, fairly, and on time. This position requires a combination of horsemanship skills, attention to detail, and the ability to follow strict racing protocols.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a right hand for the Head Starter.
• Maintain a log of all horses that come to the gate during training hours.
• Log how the horse is handled while being loaded in the starting gate. This is called putting "Marks" on the horse.
• The Starter is assigned a horse to handle. They must load the horse to the best of their ability with the information given.
• Report any problems with the horses or the gate to the Head Starter.
• Handle race horses and load into the starting gate.
• Maintenance of the starting gate. Such as, washing to keep clean.
• Inspect batteries for any problems.
• Set numbers on top of the starting gate, making sure that the number on the stall matches the number assigned to the horse being loaded into the gate.
• Morning work consist of schooling horses or breaking these horses from the gate. Once a new horse is ready the Asst. Starter sends them to the Head Starter for an application for an OK card.
• Have the trainer bring the horse to the gate in the mornings, continually, until the Head Starter feels the horse has overcome the problem and is taken off the Head Starter's list.
• Also, working with horses that have some problems while trying to load them into the gate.
• Must carry out all duties assigned to him by the Head Starter.
• Performs all other duties, as assigned.

Requirements

• Knowledge of Thoroughbred horses.
• Ability to handle horses weighing in excess of 900 pounds.
• Preferably one to two years prior experience as an Asst. Starter.
• Must be able to obtain a Louisiana Racing License.
• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
• Ability to write simple correspondence.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.
• Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Work involves lifting, walking, talking, hearing, bending, stooping, and climbing.
• Must