Safety at the track: Horse, rider well-being top priority for paddock judge

The Sentinel-Record/Richard Rasmussen DETAIL ORIENTED: Tyra Barnett, paddock judge for Oaklawn Park, ensures on race days that every horse and rider is ready to go come post time, while simultaneously keeping trainers and owners in the paddock area out of harm's way. Barnett was a trainer at Oaklawn for 13 years, winning her first race here in 1994, before taking a position as an entry clerk in the racing office nine years ago. She has served as paddock judge at Oaklawn for six years.
The Sentinel-Record/Richard Rasmussen DETAIL ORIENTED: Tyra Barnett, paddock judge for Oaklawn Park, ensures on race days that every horse and rider is ready to go come post time, while simultaneously keeping trainers and owners in the paddock area out of harm's way. Barnett was a trainer at Oaklawn for 13 years, winning her first race here in 1994, before taking a position as an entry clerk in the racing office nine years ago. She has served as paddock judge at Oaklawn for six years.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A successful live race meet at Oaklawn Park depends on hundreds of employees working a variety of jobs, from making sure the horses are ready to run to ensuring that customers have a memorable day at the races. The Sentinel-Record today continues its weekly series spotlighting the workers who make Oaklawn a success.

Tensions are high in the thoroughbred racing industry, and the paddock area can be one of the most dangerous places at the racetrack. For six years, Tyra Barnett has served as paddock judge for Oaklawn Park, keeping riders, trainers, owners and horses all safe before post time.

"It's really all about time management," she said, taking her place near the steps as a few horses came in for "schooling" in the paddock area. "You want to give the horses time to warm up and give the betters time to place their bets. It's all about getting the horses to post and everyone where they need to be."

Barnett, who grew up showing quarter horses and spending time along the racetracks in California, got her start in the racing industry as an owner and groom and worked her way up. She was a trainer at Oaklawn for 13 years, winning her first race there in 1994, but has been in the racing office for nine years as an entry clerk.

"I got tired of being cold along the backstretch, so I decided to move inside as an entry clerk," she said. "But I've worked at tracks as a placing judge and identifier, and I've been a certified steward at Wyoming Downs and Hawthorne Race Course. I went to steward school through the University of Louisville and have done just about everything there is to do on the track."

On race days, Barnett said she checks racing forms and makes notes of the horses that will have blinkers before giving the first call to the paddock 30 minutes to post. The second call is made at 27 minutes. At that time, she checks the horses' bits, bandages and blinkers, makes sure that everyone is in the correct stalls and that the jockey valets are on time to saddle the horses.

"Jocks are called at 12 minutes to post, and you have to make sure they're wearing the correct colors -- which there are times they come down in the wrong ones -- and then I like to give them a few minutes to talk to trainers," she said.

When those details are all inspected, Barnett makes the call for "riders up" -- the indication for the riders to mount their designated horses -- which she said many people wish they had the opportunity to do.

"You wouldn't believe how many people ask me if they can call for 'riders up,'" she said. "But then when I go to let them give it a shot, they chicken out."

When all the riders take their mounts, Barnett checks to ensure their arm bands are correct and that the correct rider is on the right saddle "because it's all weighted."

"And it's not uncommon for a rider to go out on the wrong saddle," she said. "That happened last month, actually, and we had to bring that rider back in and switch the saddles.

"You'll find that everyone here is a piece of the larger puzzle, and you need each piece put together for it to all work. If one thing is out of place, it all messes up."

Barnett's job has her balancing the well-being of the horses in the paddock with keeping the individuals who come to observe away from harm, which she said can be a challenge.

"You have to learn how to handle the horses, but I also went to college for psychology, so I can handle the people, too," she said.

"It's the trainers and owners that are the only other people allowed in the paddock, and a lot of people think I'm mean, but I'm really not. People don't realize that these horses can kill you, so safety is a real concern.

"But I will say I love my job, and if it weren't for the horses I wouldn't have stayed in it this long," she said.

"It's a real blessing to be able to do something you love and that your heart is in. And that's true for everyone that works here."

Local on 02/27/2015

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