STARTER

About the role

Responsible for supervising the staff of Assistant Starters, ensuring that all horses have been approved from the starting gate prior to racing. Also responsible for the releasing of the gate to start the race.

Perform duties as described in the New Mexico rules of Racing.

Responsibilities

• Ensures that his crew schools young horses, getting them ready for his approval.
• Supervise the Assistant Starters in the handling and loading of older horses that need additional schooling.
• Issue gate cards that permit the horses to start and blinker cards that permit the horses to start with a change of equipment.
• Maintain consistent contact with the Horsemen, Racing Officials, and Stewards to ensure that he and his crew are doing everything possible to give the horses the best possible start they can.
• Verify that all Assistants are neat in appearance and are wearing the track uniform provided for them by the Association.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws.
• Training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work.
• Rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

Requirements

• Three to five years prior experience as a Starter.
• Must have ability to handle horses weighing in excess of 900 pounds.
• Must qualify for the New Mexico Racing Commission license.

Skills

• Language Skills: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
• Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Reasoning Ability: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and talk or hear.
• Occasionally required to walk; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.
• Must regularly lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

• Regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places; outside weather conditions; and risk of electrical shock.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

Benefits

• Day-one medical coverage.
• 401(k) matching.
• Annual performance bonus.
• Paid time off earned according to the local policy and increases with the length of employment.
• Wellness programs designed to support team members' financial, physical, and mental well-being.

Pay

Initial placement within the salary range is based on an individual's relevant knowledge, skills, and experience. Base salary is just one component of our competitive Total Rewards package.