Paul Matties, Jr., winner of the 2016 National Handicapping Championship, will be among those featured in panel discussions during the Association of Racing Commissioners International's Conference on Racing Integrity and Welfare held Tuesday through Thursday in Charlestown, SC.
Matties will be part of Wednesday morning's panel entitled “Questioning Wether Racing Officials Get It Right” alongside veteran steward Hugh Gallagher, chair of the Racing Officials Accreditation Program and the New York Racing Association's first safety steward; and Maryland Racing Commission executive director and ARCI treasurer Mike Hopkins. Outgoing ARCI chair and 2001 NHC winner Judy Wagner will serve as moderator.
“Any time I can represent the horseplayers, I'm always honored,” said Matties, a 47-year-old professional gambler and horse owner from Ballston Spa, NY. “It's become commonplace in the industry over time that the players are the ones who are forgotten when decisions need to be made. I'm optimistic that somebody is reaching out. All horseplayers go about things in different ways. I've been thinking about it, so I can represent everybody–not just what I believe. I'm going to think of it as we're a group.
“I'm not going there to be critical of anything that has been done in the past. Let's look at future things. I'm excited to go, and I'm curious what kind of things I'll be asked. I hope Judy doesn't take it easy on me. I want it to be substantive.”
More information on the ARCI Conference is available here.
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