The Organization of Racing Investigators recently elected and appointed various board members at its annual event, which took place at the Meadowlands.

According to a release from the State of Delaware, two Delaware racing officials were named chairman and secretary of the ORI, which represents racetracks, regulatory agencies and law enforcement involved in upholding the integrity of horse racing.

Serving as chairman for the 2015-2016 term will be John F. Wayne, executive director of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission, while DTRC Inspector Francis J. Swift will serve as ORI secretary. Delaware Park will host the next ORI annual conference in March 2016.

“These training conferences bring together investigators from across North America to network and share information toward the goal of protecting our industry from wrongdoing,” Wayne was quoted as saying. “The information we learn and contacts we make at these conferences create bridges between jurisdictions that are important in trying to keep honesty in racing. A black eye in one jurisdiction can spread to others.”

Other ORI board members elected or appointed ORI’s recent annual event were Deanna Nicol, Vice Chairman (Tampa Bay Downs); Mark Ludwick, Treasurer (Iowa Department of Public Safety); Doug Murray, Sergeant At Arms (TRPB), Lance Morell, Eastern Region Representative (Parx); Antoinette Sperle, Central Region Representative (Indiana); Leasa Johnson, Western Region Representative (New Mexico); Kevin Murphy, Eastern Canada Representative (Ontario); and Rick Murchison, Western Canada Representative (British Columbia).

Lifetime achievement awards were presented to James P. Gowen, recently retired vice president at the Thoroughbred Racing Protective Bureau, and David Rogers, director of security for Delaware North at Phoenix Greyhound and other properties. “They are both outstanding individual who dedicated their careers to maintaining integrity in their respective sports,” said outgoing ORI Chairman Chris Clark.

Speakers at the 2015 conference included keynoter Ray Paulick of The Paulick Report; Ed Martin, president of the Association of Racing Commissioners International; and Dr. Dionne Benson, executive director of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium.

(With files from The State of Delaware)