TRPB History

HISTORY

In January 1946, the TRPB was incorporated as a private investigative agency whose principal mission was to address issues of integrity and security in the Thoroughbred horse racing industry. A wholly-owned subsidiary of the TRA, TRPB represents a unified effort by TRA-member racetrack associations to maintain high standards, protect the legitimate business interests and integrity of the sport, and foster and maintain public confidence.

Selected to head the new organization was Spencer J. Drayton, Sr., formerly an agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and administrative assistant to then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, an avid racing fan. Mr. Drayton modeled the TRPB along the lines of the FBI and brought in several FBI colleagues to assist him. Mr. Drayton was succeeded as TRPB President by Clifford W. Wickman in 1978 and Paul W. Berube in 1988.

On March 9, 2005, the TRPB Board of Directors elected Franklin J. Fabian to serve as the President -Treasurer of the TRPB. Mr. Fabian served previously as an Assistant Section Chief in the Counter-terrorism Division of the FBI’s Washington, D.C. headquarters.

In 2009, TRPB continues to provide member tracks of the TRA with a wide variety of investigative, security, and analytic services. Investigations of an administrative or criminal nature typify the often complex matters pursued thoroughly by professional and qualified TRPB agents. Upon request, TRPB supervises the security and policing operations at TRA-member racetracks during their live race meeting. TRPB’s Information System, a repository which maintains, catalogues, and disseminates racing and wagering investigative, intelligence, and security information, is without parallel in the racing industry. Taken together, TRPB’s array of services creates an ongoing self-policing effort.

In late 2003, TRPB created its Wagering Integrity Unit, which continues to share its extensive knowledge of pari-mutuel wagering and totalisator operations by providing analytic products, presentation, and consultation to TRA members, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and domestic and international regulatory and law enforcement organizations. In 2006, the unit launched its “Betting Analysis Project,” which collects and analyzes wagering information on a near-real time basis from TRA-member racetrack associations and identifies wagering events requiring further investigation. Through this project, TRPB has delivered to its TRA membership integrity tools to monitor wagering and participant activity.

As part of its overall work, TRPB maintains close liaison and professional interaction with local, state, and federal law-enforcement authorities nationwide in its effort to develop intelligence concerning unethical persons and criminal operations potentially injurious to the Thoroughbred sport.

TRPB is recognized internationally for its expertise in all facets of racing and wagering integrity and security. TRPB interacts with a number of international racing organizations in the exchange of racing information. These include: The British Horseracing Regulatory Authority; the Horse Racing Protection Foundation (an affiliate of the Japan Racing Association); France-Galop; the Hong Kong Jockey Club Security Department; the Korea Racing Association and various Australian and New Zealand racing authorities.

Beginning in 1947, TRPB initiated the lip-tattoo system for identification of Thoroughbreds for race-time purposes. Through the use of a distinctive “parallel cluster” lip-tattoo die brand designed and patented by TRPB, the Thoroughbred industry is provided with the most effective, practical, and economical method of horse identification available today.

The TRPB also participates nationwide in conferences, seminars, workshops, and other assemblies considering programs related to integrity, security, safety, enforcement, and ethics in racing.