Speaker Series: Scott Chaney, Executive Director, California Horse Racing Board
On Wednesday, October 23, students in the Race Track Industry Program welcomed Scott Chaney to Tucson to speak to students in both the Animal Racing Laws class and the Joe Hirsch Speaker Series. Mr. Chaney serves as the Executive Director of the California Horse Racing Board. In addition to his experience with the CHRB, Chaney brings in a wealth of knowledge from his time as an assistant trainer to Darrell Vienna and as a racing steward.
Mr. Chaney kicked off the conversation by detailing the duties of a steward in California. Students quickly learned that conducting inquiries during the race card accounted for a very small part of the job. He then went on to discuss the fact that the United States used Category 2, which differed from countries that adjudicate races using the Category 1 system. Chaney offered valuable insight for students wishing to pursue a career as a racing official, stressing that while no two incidents will be exactly the same, stewards will follow a systematic process to arrive at their decisions. Students enjoyed a chance at practical application of looking at a race when Chaney reviewed the Bayern non-disqualification at the start of the 2014 Breeders’ Cup Classic