Doro named director of racing at Oaklawn Park

Jerome “Jed” Doro has been named director of racing for Oaklawn Park, the Hot Springs, Ark., track announced Thursday. Doro, who for the past 10 years has been a racing official at Delaware Park, will begin his new duties Sept. 24.

Doro takes over from David Longinotti, the longtime director of racing for Oaklawn who earlier this year was named director of Oaklawn Anywhere, the track’s account-wagering platform. Pat Pope remains the racing secretary at Oaklawn.

Doro worked under Pope as an assistant racing secretary at Delaware Park before being named racing secretary for the track in 2014. Doro is from a racing family, and his first job on the track was as a hotwalker for trainer Tony Dutrow in 1998. He would go on to work as a racing official at Colonial Downs, for the Maryland Jockey Club, and later at Delaware Park.

Doro spent the 2014 meet at Oaklawn working as an assistant director of racing under Longinotti.

"We’re delighted to have Jed and welcome him back as a member of the Oaklawn family," Wayne Smith, general manager of Oaklawn, said in a press release. "Jed’s background and experience will be a great addition as we continue to grow racing at Oaklawn. His hiring continues to strengthen an already great racing team."

Doro is looking forward to returning to Oaklawn.

"I couldn’t be more thrilled about getting back to Hot Springs and reacquainting myself with the track and horsemen," Doro said in a press release. "I really enjoyed my time there in 2014, and it’s amazing how much the program has grown over the last few years. I’m looking forward to helping to continue that growth into the future."

Oaklawn opens Jan. 25 and will run an extended meet this year, with racing through May 4.

The position Doro has taken with Oaklawn is a year-round role, confirmed track spokeswoman Jennifer Hoyt. She said Longinotti and Doro plan to travel to Kentucky later this month to talk with horsemen about the upcoming meet at Oaklawn.