Starter

About the role

We’re always looking for talent that believes in having fun. At PENN Entertainment, you’ll get to be a part of an exciting industry, where the days and nights are fast paced. You’ll work with an incredibly diverse set of coworkers driven by their enthusiasm for helping people find and have more fun. You’ll also get to work at a company that cares about your career growth and will help you get the support you need to expand your possibilities.

Responsibilities

• Supervise all assistant starters.
• Supervise the placement of race timing beams prior to each race and ensure they are returned to the proper location at the end of each race day.
• Ensure that races are started fair and timely.
• Communicate with the stewards.
• Schooling horses in the morning.
• Keep accurate records pertaining to the starting gate on each horse stabled on grounds.
• Inspect, test, and document the starting gates and starting gate trucks daily prior to training and racing to ensure they are in proper working condition.
• Maintain and document all maintenance performed on the starting gates.
• Set the starting gate for each race at the correct location, ensuring the correct numbers on the starting gate.
• Follow proper procedures for moving the starting gate on and off the track each race and ensure in the event of an equipment failure that procedures are followed to safely remove the gate.
• Regularly review and update starting gate procedures to ensure the safety of all individuals and equines.
• Make equipment changes if needed.
• Report any maintenance or safety issue to management and assist in coordinating efforts to address and correct.
• Address complaints and resolve problems.
• Perform other reasonable related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Must be knowledgeable of the Rules of Racing.
• Must have a thorough knowledge of horse racing.
• Must be able to work in various weather conditions.
• Must meet professional appearance standards as prescribed by company policy.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Responsible for staff development and training programs.
• Responsible for rewards and recognition program to maximize employee engagement.
• Evaluates team members within department and delivers constructive feedback to employees in regard to performance.
• Determines recommendation for staffing (including interviewing and hiring) and scheduling (planning, assigning, and directing work) to meet business needs.
• Determines work procedures and expedites workflow.
• Responsible for employee performance (disciplining, coaching, counseling).

Education and/or Experience

• High School diploma.
• 2-3 years Starting Gate experience or horse handling experience preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Language Skills

• Ability to read and interpret documents in English, such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals.
• Ability to read and communicate verbally in English.
• Written communication skills in English may also be required.
• Multilingual preferred.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement, volume and distance.
• Possess ability to operate an adding machine and have basic computer skills.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Certifications, Licenses, Registrations

• Employee must be able to qualify for licenses and permits required by federal, state and local regulations, including the Ohio State Racing Commission.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and have acceptable driving history as determined by PENN Entertainment, Inc.’s auto insurance carrier.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to stand and use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Frequently required to reach with hands and arms and talk or hear.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, color vision, and peripheral vision.
• Physically mobile with reasonable accommodations including ability to push, pull, carry and lift up to 75 lbs., and the ability to push, pull, reach, bend, twist, stoop, stack, crouch, kneel and balance when performing job duties in varying work areas such as confined spaces.
• Team Members must be drug free.

Work Environment

• May be exposed to toxic fumes and/or chemicals, odors, dusts, mechanical parts, electrical shock, and moving objects.
• Must be able to work in various weather conditions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• All Team Members at Hollywood are under surveillance (and audio surveillance in limited areas).
• Performance may be observed and recorded.
• Employee could be exposed to an environment containing unrestricted second-hand tobacco smoke.