The Association of Racing Commissioners International (ARCI) has installed Judy Wagner as its new Chair for 2016-2017.

Recently re-appointed to the Louisiana State Racing Commission by Governor John Bel Edwards, Wagner is the first horseplayer to assume the helm of North America’s umbrella group of racing regulatory bodies.

Wagner is the only woman to have won the National Handicapping Championship (2001) and is a member of the National Handicapping Championship’s Hall of Fame. In 2007 she joined the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) National Player’s Committee.

In 2014, Mrs. Wagner was appointed as the first and only horseplayer to the NTRA Board of Directors. In 2015, she was elected to a three-year term.

A native of Mississippi and former school teacher, Wagner fell in love with horse racing and owned horses from 1995 to 2006. She has been a national leader in lobbying Congress on matters pertaining to tax fairness for horseplayers as well as owners and breeders.

Wagner succeeds Arkansas State Racing Commissioner Mark Lamberth as the ARCI Chair. Lamberth will continue to serve on the ARCI Board and Executive Committee.

The ARCI Board also selected the Chair of the Washington Horse Racing Commission, Jeffry Colliton, as Secretary and Chair-elect. J. Michael Hopkins, long time Executive Director of the Maryland Racing Commission was elected Treasurer.

In addition to automatic representatives from New York, California, New Jersey, Ontario, and Kentucky the following individuals were re-elected to “at-large” positions on the ARCI Board of Directors:

Dan Hartman – Colorado Division of Racing Events
Larry Eliason - South Dakota Commission on Gaming
Tom Sage – Nebraska State Racing Commission
David Lornergard - Trinidad and Tobago Racing Authority
Steve Suttie – Canadian Pari-Mutuel Agency
Tom DiPasquale – Minnesota Racing Commission
John Wayne – Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission
Bill Phillips - West Virginia Racing Commission
Edward Menton - Mobile County (Alabama) Racing Commission.

(with files from ARCI)