Aldo Zamora: Washington State Horse Racing Commission at Emerald Downs
Aldo clocking workouts at Emerald Downs
For my 2023 internship, I worked for the Washington State Horse Racing Commission at Emerald Downs. My first task was to learn the licensing process including data entry, photos, and license issuance. I then spent time with the clockers in the mornings. I would time the horses working out each morning and upload the information into Equibase. I also shadowed the stewards on race day, and observed the procedures they followed before, during, and after the races. Watching how they handled objections and inquiries was especially interesting. I worked in the test barn, and helped identify each horse and make sure it was the correct horse running in an upcoming race. I learned the claims box procedures including making sure that all the information was accurate and reporting claims to the stewards. If there were multiple claims, I was in charge of the “shake” to determine which barn the horse would move to. Finally, I worked with the investigators. I joined them as they went from barn to barn and assisted in translation if needed. Overall, I learned many different areas of how the race track operates and I am thankful for all the people who took the time to mentor me. — Aldo Zamora