Page 93 - Speedhorse, October 2021

I think it’s something, when you enter it, you do it for the love of the people. You can never do it to be wealthy. You must do it as a form of service. Your love for the Lord and love for the people, you must have that in order to be a successful race track chaplain.
THE BACKSIDE
Since racetracks usually run on weekends, it makes it difficult for those who work in the industry to attend regular church services. That’s where the Race Track Chaplaincy of America provides a need.
“Right now, the latest statistics, there are 450,000 people connected and employed by the horse racing industry,” Waits said. “We see our role as looking to serve all those folks.”
When speaking with Waits, he used the phrase “exponentially improve” a few times when describing the role the RTCA looks to fill for the communities in which affiliated chaplains serve. The organization website focuses on five areas of need: spiritual, emotional, physical, social, and educational. There are 40 senior chaplains across the country who belong to the RTCA, working at 49 different tracks and training facilities. A few associate chaplains provide support—as do volunteers, with Waits, other executives, and the RTCA board overseeing it all.
“The chaplains were pretty heroic
during the pandemic,” Waits said. “Our
job was to make sure we were keeping them healthy and well equipped and provide them with the resources to minister to everybody on the backside, and the frontside as well. The chaplains were incredibly selfless during
They do the prayer in the jocks’ room and for the gate staff. But I think also, some of the things that have changed is the online presence. There for a while, just like every other church, they were having a hard
time meeting and gathering like they used to. A lot of the chaplains adapted. They broadened their horizon a little bit, started more online. They’ve gone back to providing the food and clothing and transportation they always provided, and all those needs are still there.”
WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE MEMORIES FROM TRACKS YOU VISITED?
“I don’t put any track above the other but Ruidoso, being there for the All American, was pretty awesome. Being at Los Alamitos for the championship was amazing. Remington Park—just several [tracks] that I’ve been to along the way. Albuquerque Downs is always one of my favorites. There are a host of tracks that really have been
fun to visit. I’ve gotten to know a lot of the wonderful people, the management there. They’d welcome me with open arms. I’m blessed with some of the relationships I made in the Quarter Horse world. Going to the
IF YOU HADN’T TAKEN THIS POSITION, DO YOU THINK YOU’D STILL BE IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY?
“Well, I could be. I left the corporate environment because I felt truly called
to the ministry, full time, as a vocational pastor. While I served in that capacity for some time, this role kind of lends itself to both worlds, in the fact that it’s project and program management, but also ministerial. I think God told me, for the rest of my career, to be involved in vocational ministry. But I’m always wanting to follow His lead. I feel truly like RTCA director was a position He had in mind for me long ago, before I ever knew about it.”
IN THIS SPACE, WE OFTEN TALK WITH TRAINERS AND JOCKEYS
AND ASK THEM WHAT ADVICE
THEY HAVE FOR PEOPLE ENTERING THOSE FIELDS. ALONG THOSE LINES, WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE TO SOMEONE WHO WOULD WANT TO BE A RACING CHAPLAIN?
“It’s truly a calling. That sounds maybe like a church-speak type of word, but it’s truly a calling.
“You have to really, really want to
the pandemic. I was really proud of the job that they did. And the job they continue to do today.”
To learn more about Waits and the RTCA, read the continuation of our interview in this installment of our Backside feature series.
HOW FAMILIAR WERE YOU WITH HORSE RACING BEFORE THIS POSITION?
“Being raised in Lexington, it’s
almost through osmosis. You’re in that Thoroughbred world. I certainly wasn’t as familiar then as I am now. I truly believe that God put me on the path, equipped me with being able to administrate and manage such a large network.”
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CONCERNS AND DUTIES THAT COME UP MOST OFTEN FOR A RACING CHAPLAIN?
“It’s a little bit different environment now. They still do the church services, they still
do the Bible studies, they still go and visit
the sick and the injured in the hospital and provide follow-up support for the families.
AQHA conference was wonderful; I always get to do the church service. There’ve been lots of memories so far and lots of great friendships that have developed.”
WITH SUCH A LARGE ORGANIZATION, WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO KEEP THINGS ORGANIZED AND RUNNING AS
IT SHOULD?
“It takes a very supportive board.
They’ve always been very, very gracious,
and supportive of any idea that has come to mind. They’ve always been open and flexible. It also takes one-on-one communication, which is really, really important—make
sure everybody’s communicating. The race track family is very transient. Chaplains communicate with other chaplains. Making sure people are taken care of is important.
It truly is a family. The number one priority is to make sure you love everybody. That’s paramount. Love everybody within and outside of the race track chaplain family, make sure we value everybody. I would say that comes before everything else.”
become a race track chaplain, and to be equipped to be a great race track chaplain. I think that we have a host of chaplains that have served decades. We’ve got chaplains that have served 25, 30, 35, 40 years as a race track chaplain.
“I think it’s something, when you enter it, you do it for the love of the people. You can never do it to be wealthy. You must do it as a form of service.
“Your love for the Lord and love for the people, you must have that in order
to be a successful race track chaplain. I’m really amazed. It’s been the most fulfilling ministry I’ve ever been a part of.
“It’s really a blessing, because I’ve gotten to work with some great, great people all across the U.S., and they’re really doing amazing work. I can be a pastor to the chaplain and make sure they’re happy and healthy and get what they need. They’re truly the ones out on the backside every day, really making people’s lives better. I’m amazed at them, specifically, and the work that they do.”
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