The Foote Award is the highest honor
bestowed on racing regulators in North America. The award was presented at the
annual awards luncheon held on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at the Wyndham
Riverfront Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Gallagher, a native of Maryland, has
been involved in the racing industry in eight different jurisdictions for
nearly 40 years. As a racing steward and presiding judge, Gallagher has
officiated more than 38,000 races. Gallagher was unable to attend the
convention, but accepting on his behalf was John Wayne, the Executive Director
of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission.
In a written acceptance statement,
Gallagher expressed that he was “humbled by the honor” of being selected among
his peers for the award, while also urging all racing regulators to “stand firm
at this time although you may face fierce resistance and objection from various
elements of the industry we have chosen to regulate.”
RCI also honored Steve Barham,
Associate Coordinator for the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program
and former Executive Director of the Oregon Racing Commission, with the 2013
RCI William H. May Award. The award honors “meritorious service” to the racing
industry of individuals or groups, and past recipients of the include Stanley
Bergstein, John Gaines, and John and Barbara Smicklas, the 2012 co-recipients.
RCI Model Rules Committee Chairman
Larry Eliason, the Executive Secretary of the South Dakota Commission on
Gaming, presented Barham with the award, noting that under Barham’s supervision
the Oregon Racing Commission successfully undertook the regulation of Advanced
Deposit Wagering, which has grown to over $2 billion annually in handle. Barham
has also been a driving force in the development and maintenance of the RCI
Model Rules.
“In both his time as a racing
regulator and an RTIP faculty member Steve Barham has been an important and
well-respected factor at RCI and throughout the racing industry, and he is a
noble recipient of the William H. May Award,” said RCI President Ed Martin.
Barham plans on retiring from the
University of Arizona at the conclusion of the spring academic semester, a void
that will be felt at the Race Track Industry Program, at RCI, and throughout
the pari-mutuel racing industry.
