Page 185 - January 2018

Jerry Burgess aboard Dash For Cash in the winner’s circle after winning the 1977 Vessels Maturity for owner Phillips Ranch & King Ranch Inc. and trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
A. Well, I would say that one of the major things that has been is medications. I look forward to finding a solution that everyone can come together on and work in conjunction for the better of the horse on the medications. I’m not sure if that means assigning an advocate
for the horse, because horses do need medica- tion. They deserve to be comfortable when they perform, but they also deserve to be treated fairly, not over-medicated or medicated with an illegal substance. For example, we take Tylenol to feel better when we have a headache. It’s our job as stewards of these animals to treat them well and fairly, and denying them treatment isn’t the way to go about it.
Q. As far as the illegal drug problem goes, do you think that a good start might be modeling the Quarter Horses after Jockey Club drug rules?
A. Yes, I think that could be a start. They do have a good system, and I think the key
is going to be making sure it is a nationwide system where trainers know without a doubt that when they cross state lines what they can give their horse and what they can’t will be the same as the track they were leaving. The consistency will help them so much.
Q. What are some changes you’d like to see in horse racing.
A. I want to see more young people involved in horse racing. I’ve started a program here at Lone Star where high school students from the city come and tour the track, and we give them an idea of what working at the track is like and what some of the different jobs entail. I don’t want there to be a day when you go to the racetrack and all you see are gray heads and old folks. I want the young people involved because they are the future of our industry and we need that future.
away, but an education is something that no one can take away. It’s something you have that no matter what, you can fall back on it, and to have that education is to be respected.
I decided to go through the police academy because I saw how times were changing and what was happening to the world. I decided that a clear concept of the law and law enforce- ment was something that I could put a lot of value into and use throughout my whole life. I never planned to go into law enforcement full time, but it was something I knew I could put to good use. Later in life, it also allowed me to become a track steward working for the Texas Racing Commission. I believe it helped on several fronts. Not only to help me into the job as track steward, but it also allows a bit more respect and level ground when I work alongside law enforcement on the track. They know my background, and it’s easier for them to trust they can work with me knowing I’ve gone through that.
Q. What does the daily schedule look like for a track steward on a normal week?
A. Well as you know, the track steward is responsible for enforcing the rules and regula- tions at the racetrack. That includes both on the racetrack and on the backside. On race day, we sit in the tower and watch all that’s going on down on the track, from the gate preparation to the finish of the race. We watch closely to make sure all the rules are being followed, and we enforce it when they aren’t. We work with the vets to make sure all horses are fit to run, and we watch the way the horses are handled from the moment they step on the track for a race until they leave, which includes studying the race so we can ensure that each race was run fairly and won correctly. A track steward’s job is to enforce the rules and regulations of the state in which they are working and to see that all individuals are treated the same running the
race - that everyone follows the same rules and they are enforced correctly.
Now, on days that there is no racing, you’ll find the steward on the backside going through the barns making sure everyone is following the track rules, such as no alcohol. There is no alco- hol allowed on the backside and if caught with it, a person would be fined for breaking that rule. There are a lot of rules for the track, but they are in place for the betterment of the track and the people working on it. So, on those days that there is no racing, I will spend time on the backside talking to people and getting reports on how things are going. I also visit with the track veterinarian, track security and speak to the general manager for the track every day. We work in conjunction to make sure that the race meet and race days run smoothly and correctly.
Q. You’ve been in Quarter Horse racing for a long time. What are some of the changes that you’ve seen that stand out to you?
Jerry Burgess in the winner’s circle with Bugs Alive In 75 after winning the 1976 West Texas Derby.
SPEEDHORSE, January 2018 183
THE BACKSIDE