West Virginia’s Phillips named to board of Racing Commissioners International

TAMPA, FL – With the recent elevation of Mark Lamberth, commissioner from the Arkansas Racing Commission, as its 2015 chairman, the Association of Racing Commissioners International tapped Louisiana commissioner Judy Wagner to serve as secretary/chairperson-elect and Washington State Racing Commission member Jeff Colliton as treasurer.

The regulators also added Elkins resident Bill Phillips of the West Virginia Racing Commission, Tom DiPasquale of Minnesota Racing Commission, Steve Suttie of the Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency, John Wayne of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission and David Loregnard of the Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority to the RCI Board of Directors.

The West Virginia Racing Commission oversees and regulates the greyhound and thoroughbred horse racing industries in the state, including annual report, license application and rules.  The WVRC monitors live racing at four race tracks: two for thoroughbred horses and two for greyhounds.

Lamberth, a thoroughbred owner, was appointed to the Arkansas Racing Commission in 2011 after previously serving on the board of directors of the Arkansas Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association.The elections were part of the 81st Annual RCI Conference on Racing and Wagering Integrity, held last week at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay.

The RCI board also includes Rick Baedeker of the California Horse Racing Board, Rob Williams of the New York State Gaming Commission, Frank Zanzuccki of the New Jersey Racing Commission, Dr. Corrine Sweeney of the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission, Jonathan Zachem of the Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, and Steve Lehman of the Ontario Racing Commission.

Re-elected board members include Eddie Menton of the Mobile County Racing Commission, Tom Sage  of the Nebraska State Racing Commission, Charles Gardiner  of the Louisiana State Racing Commission, Larry Eliason  of the South Dakota Commission on Gaming, Constantin Rieger  of the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission, and Mike Hopkins of the Maryland Racing Commission.

RCI President Ed Martin said the RCI board “reflects an expertise applicable to every aspect of racing and the group is blessed to have the commitment of so many talented professionals who strive to do right by our horses, greyhounds, and the sports they regulate.”

The RCI said horseplayers and fans will have an important advocate in Judy Wagner. In addition to serving as the Louisiana State Racing Commission, Wagner is also the horseplayers representative on the NTRA Board of Directors.

RCI board members serve one year terms, with the exception of the secretary/chairperson-elect, who will automatically be elevated to chairperson of the association at the 2016 RCI annual meeting.