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Roy Smith Honored With Superintendent Innovator Award

Roy Smith, who inaugurated the racetrack superintendent field day in 2001, was honored with the Racetrack Superintendent's Innovator Award during last week's University of Arizona Race Track Industry Symposium.

A second-generation race tracker, Smith served as assistant track superintendent to Blackie Chobanian at Suffolk Downs in 1977 and he took charge after Chobanian's passing in 1981. He moved to Philadelphia Park in 1984 and worked at the Pennsylvania track for 31 years before moving to Indiana Grand in 2014.

Smith was selected for the 2023 superintendent's innovator award for his work in professionalizing the career of racetrack superintendent and introducing the concept of continuing education to the community. The idea of continuing education is now part of the Regulations of the Horse Racing Integrity and Safety Authority. His vision of a collaborative profession focused on the safety of the horse and rider is embodied in the Superintendent's Field Day and more recently with the new version of the Dirt Panel that has been held at RTIP since 2021.

The Racetrack Superintendent's Innovator Award is given to recognize the critical professionals who maintain racing surfaces for safety and fairness.

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Tony Martinez Named Horseshoe Indianapolis Track Superintendent

Tony Martinez has been named the new track superintendent at Horseshoe Indianapolis. Martinez is set to replace current track superintendent Roy Smith, who announced his retirement at the end of the Indiana track's 2022 season.

Martinez has been involved in track maintenance for more than 30 years and brings more than 15 years of experience as a track superintendent. The third generation track man has expertise in all surfaces and is especially know for his work in fine grading, track moisture evaluations, extensive harrowing, and soil composition. He has been involved with the construction of more than 25 training and arena facilities. Martinez has served as superintendent at seven racetracks over his career with his most recent post at Gulfstream Park.

“We are extremely pleased to bring in Tony as our next track superintendent,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing. “Roy has developed a great track maintenance program at our facility. We look forward to welcoming Tony in to continue the hard work already implemented. We have a great foundation for both our dirt and turf courses and are confident in Tony's skills to take the lead in this department.”

Horseshoe Indianapolis underwent a total track renovation during the 2018 racing season with an investment that topped $800,000. Prior to that, a new $3.3-million track maintenance building was constructed with upgrades in equipment added for both surfaces.

“I'm very excited to join the team at Horseshoe Indianapolis,” said Martinez. “Their facility is state of the art and being able to walk into a program like this is a great opportunity for me. I look forward to working with both the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse programs in Indiana.”

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Registration Now Open For Track Superintendent Field Day At Gulfstream

Registration is now open for Track Superintendent Field Day on June 12-14 at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The gathering brings together track superintendents and staff to discuss best practices related to track maintenance, safety and operational issues for racing and training facilities.

“We are thrilled to be heading to Florida in 2022,” said Roy Smith, founder of the event and track superintendent at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino. “Gulfstream Park is a world-class facility with terrific racing surfaces.”

Track Superintendent Field Day started as a small meeting at Philadelphia Park (now Parx Racing) in 2002 and since then has grown to become one of the racing industry's largest and most important events focusing on track safety.

New regulations under the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) are set to begin later this year, so the Field Day agenda will include a panel on ensuring that superintendents are ready for the hefty reporting requirements. This will also fulfill four hours of continuing education.

Track Superintendents Field Day is not-for-profit 501(c)(3) entity, and registration is free for superintendents and their staff, supported solely by the sponsors of this event, including title sponsor Equine Equipment.

The only expenses for track superintendents and staff are transportation and a discounted hotel rate at the Hampton Inn Hallandale Beach as the host hotel.

“My team and I look forward to welcoming everyone to Gulfstream Park,” said Tony Martinez Jr., track superintendent at the South Florida track.

“Track Superintendent Field Day always provides extensive educational information and networking, so we are proud to support this for the betterment of the industry,” said Steve Andersen of Equine Equipment. “The panels and speakers we bring together are instrumental in cultivating the superintendents of tomorrow and in building the skillsets of current supers. We urge tracks to send their key people to demonstrate a willingness to invest in their future and get the annual training from the oldest track superintendent group in North America.”

To register, call 877-905-0004 or email tracksupers@gmail.com.

More information regarding registration and the agenda will be forthcoming at www.tracksupers.com.

The post Registration Now Open For Track Superintendent Field Day At Gulfstream appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Gulfstream Hosts Track Superintendent Day in ’22

The 2022 edition of Track Superintendent Field Day will be held June 12-14 at Gulfstream in Hallandale Beach, Florida. This will mark the first time the event, which debuted in 2002 at Philadelphia Park (now Parx Racing), has been held at Gulfstream. The gathering brings together track superintendents and staff to discuss best practices related to track maintenance, safety and operational issues for racing and training facilities.

“We are thrilled to be heading to Florida in 2022,” said Roy Smith, founder of the event and track superintendent at Indiana Grand Racing and Casino. “Gulfstream Park is a world-class facility with terrific racing surfaces, so it will serve as a great host for track superintendents from around North America and beyond.”

In addition to the educational aspect, Track Superintendent Field Day has a charity aspect, and the 2021 meeting at Indiana Grand provided $500 donations to both the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and New Vocations.

“The PDJF and New Vocations are both tremendously important to our industry, so we are happy to do our part in helping to support them with these donations,” said Smith. “We had a great event this year and being able to give back to the industry makes it even better.”

More information regarding registration and the agenda will be forthcoming at www.tracksupers.com.

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