This position is located in the Division of Racing office at 1707 Cole Blvd. Suite 300, Golden, CO 80401. This position will also be required to work as needed at the Division's Arapahoe Park and off-track facility located at 26000 E. Quincy Ave, Aurora, CO.
This position is responsible for assuring the safety of racing animals, implementing the Division's laboratory testing program, and assisting in developing rules, regulations, and guidelines pertaining to medication usage and animal welfare. This position must be a licensed veterinarian in good standing with the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine. This position is the first-level team lead for test barn staff in the execution of duties related to the post-race drug screenings and is a key player in the chain of custody for test samples. The position will work in cooperation with (HISA) Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and (HIWU) Horseracing Integrity Welfare Unit as subject to the HISA established rules. This position will collaborate with the chief veterinarian of the Colorado Department of Agriculture and other regulatory agencies to take measures to control communicable or reportable equine diseases. This position will work in conjunction with Colorado State University on the Colorado Racehorse Postmortem Evaluation Project. This position will provide continued support services for the enforcement and regulatory sections within Racing. The position will report to the Agent in Charge.
Rules and Regulations
- Understand all state rules and regulations regarding veterinary responsibilities under the Colorado Racing Act.
- Understand all HISA rules and regulations regarding veterinary responsibilities under the FTC.
- Understand all HIWU reporting requirements regarding veterinary responsibilities.
- Conduct pre-race inspections per HISA and Racing Commission regulations on all potential starters on race day.
- Conduct and/or supervise the taking of all biological specimens for testing related to the Division's/HISA Anti-Doping and Medication Control (ADMC) Program to include urine and blood and/or hair collection in the test barn related to race results, claims, and out-of-competition testing.
- Provide emergency medical care to horses as needed.
- Recommend to the stewards the scratching of any horse that is, in the opinion of the official veterinarian, injured, ill, or otherwise unable to compete due to a medical or health-related condition or deemed unsafe to be raced.
Record Keeping
- Maintain all records related to sample collection, chain of custody, and sample destruction both in writing and digitally.
- Provide proper safeguards in the handling of all laboratory specimens to prevent tampering, confusion, or contamination and assure sample integrity.
- Complete written reports for stewards' recommendations and veterinarian lists.
- Review and consult on the license applications of attending veterinarians, veterinary technicians or assistants, vendors of medical supplies and equipment, and non-veterinarian health care providers. Provide reports according to HISA mandates regarding injuries, euthanization, or other fatalities.
- Act as Chair of Safety meetings and record notes of meetings.
- Team lead for the temporary veterinarian staff and scheduling for the test barn, including the coordination of work duties and procedures.
- Communicate with racetrack staff and security and Division employees to ensure the security requirements of the test barn area during live racing and otherwise.
- Ensure the test barn is properly equipped and maintain the physical working conditions for horses and all staff.
- Work with horsemen representatives and interests to ensure the security and integrity of all samples collected.
Other Duties as Assigned
- Attend meetings and complete secondary duties such as special projects or administrative matters as assigned.
- Testify as the Division's Regulatory Veterinarian in administrative hearings and other administrative and/or criminal proceedings when necessary.
- Complete, on an annual basis, a minimum of eight hours of continuing education specifically applicable to racetrack veterinarian practice.
- Assist other Division staff in their duties via knowledge and industry expertise.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Residency Requirements: This announcement is open to potential candidates who are legal residents of the United States. All legal residents of the United States are eligible to apply and compete.
If appointed to a position, applicants from outside of Colorado will be required to relocate to Colorado at their own expense. The time frame for relocation is based on DOR needs and is typically between 30 and 60 days after an offer has been accepted.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience:
Current valid veterinarian license in the State of Colorado or state you currently reside in or able to apply and obtain a valid veterinarian license in the State of Colorado within 30 days if an offer is given and you are out of state; and
Two years of experience with large animal equine veterinary care.
Substitutions: None
Necessary Special Requirements:
• In state travel required as needed
Conditions of Employment:
• Applicants must be willing to work nights, weekends, holidays.
• Applicants must be willing and able to perform lifting, carrying, or otherwise moving objects, occasionally up to 50 pounds.
• Random drug tests may be required of all positions.
• A current Veterinarian Colorado License is required.
Preferred Qualifications
- Determine the necessary course of action based on the appropriate situation with State of Colorado rules and regulations and/or policy.
- Require equine and large animal veterinary knowledge and expertise.
- Knowledge of horse racing requirements and risk.
- Ensuring compliance with veterinary ethics and relevant statutes, policies, and procedures.
- Ability to provide research and expert opinions on suitability of staff, supplies, equipment, and tests.
- Determine what content and information is required for reports.
- Requires flexibility for analysis, goal setting, and completion of non-routine tasks.
- Outstanding decision-making ability.
- Strong affinity for animals.
- Ability to make prudent decisions regarding the welfare and well-being of animals.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
- Proficiency in Google Suite.
- Excellent oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
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