Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Odds On Racing's

Personality of the Month
for May 2006

Rick Moore

Rick Moore serves as the President and General Manager of Hoosier Park Racetrack, having been assinged that post on March 19, 2001, after serving as the executive vice president and general manager since 1994.

Born and raised in Park Hills, Ky., the 54-year-old Moore became involved with horse racing when one of his high school teachers got him a part-time job working as a $2 Show seller at Latonia Trots.

Rick Moore

"When I was a young boy my father took me to the Latonia Race Track (now Turfway Park) to attend the harness racing. I can still remember a horse of the name of Volovola breaking stride that night. When I graduated from high school, a teacher friend got me a part-time job selling show tickets and since that day I have never collected a paycheck outside of the horse racing industry.

After graduation from the University of Kentucky with a degree in business administration in 1972, Moore accepted a position as assistant mutuel manager at Remington Park in Oklahoma City. Moore returned to the Kentucky racing scene in 1991 when he was named director of mutuels for Churchill Downs. He was later promoted to general manager of the Sports Spectrum in Louisville, a position he held until coming to Hoosier Park.

Under Moore's guidance, Hoosier Park opened satellite wagering facilities in Merrillville, Fort Wayne and Indianapolis in 1995, added Thoroughbred racing in 1995 and Quarter Horse racing in 1997, and expanded the Indianapolis Sports Spectrum in 1999. In 2000, the company began an expansion of the track's barn area, adding a 100-stall barn and a 100-stall Thoroughbred barn/Standardbred paddock. In all Moore has overseen the completion of more than $10 million in capital projects since his arrival.

"Being involved in the horse racing industry and being a part of the Churchill Downs organization is the best part of my job," Rick noted. "It's great to see people enjoy themselves when they come to Hoosier Park. The only time my job gets rough is when I have to make unpopular decisions and have to deal with tough personnel issues at times."

Rick got an unusual introduction when he first arrived at Hoosier Park in 1994.

"The horse Capt. Matthews got loose from his driver and he slid under a chain link fence and wound up on the apron, right amonst the patrons," Rick recalled. "I think to run a track efficiently you have to find the best people possible and allow them free rein to carry out their responsibilities and to make decisions. When they stub their toe be there to catch them adn provide constructive criticism."

What developments have intrigued Rick the most during his years in racing?

"The speed of today's horses compared to the past and the way races are conducted," Rick said. "When I first started at Latonian it was a rare feat when a horse paced under 2:00. Now, horses are pacing 1:48 and 1:49 on a regular basis. Also, when I first started, most drivers followed in single file. Now, drivers are pulling their horses at various times throughout the race. I think harness racing is now more exciting than ever."

"Obviously, simulcasting has played a big role in exposing harness racing to virtually every part of the country," Rick said. "Also, I believe harness racing has become easier to understand from a bettor's point of view. The racing secretary (particullary Kevin Mack here at Hoosier Park) has gotten away from writing so many condition races, when the public does not understand, and has replaced them with different levels of claiming races."

"If I were in charge of harness racing on a national level I would make all trainers train on water, hay , oats and attention. If that wasn't possible, I would at least have uniform drug rules throughout the harness industry so that horses would be competiting on a level playing field no matter where they were racing."

Besides his duties at Hoosier, Rick is also the chairman of the board for the Chamber of Commerce for Anderson and Madison County, the Madison/Grant County Workforce Investment, Anderson Fine Arts Council, Indiana Horse Council Foundation, Better Business Bureau, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. He is also a member of the Saint John's Finance Committee, Indiana Horse Council Long Range Planning Committee, and the Rotary Club of Anderson.

Where does he see himself in ten years?

"I hope to be doing the same thing that I am now doing---at Hoosier Park as president. Only I hope to have some additional duties such as overseeing a slot machine operation here as well."

2006 Personality Archives
April: Kevin Mack
March: Tom Kelley
February: Dick Buxton
January: Walter Paisley