Higgins to be Saratoga's first female steward

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In the summers of her youth, she hung around the Saratoga barn of Hall of Fame trainer Allen Jerkens, for whom her father, Bill, worked. Her great-uncle on her mother’s side was the legendary trainer Charlie Whittingham.

So, it wasn’t a stretch that Erinn Higgins would find her calling on the racetrack. It is, however, a bit of a surprise that Higgins would find herself in the role of steward.

On Monday, Higgins, 27, will become the first woman to serve in the stewards’ stand at Saratoga.

Last fall, Higgins became the associate steward for the New York State Gaming Commission. That position was formerly held by Steve Lewandowski, who last year was elevated to state steward when Carmine Donofrio retired.

Higgins, a native of Saratoga, has worked 46 days in the stand, 41 at Finger Lakes and five days last fall at Belmont Park.

“It’s special because it’s home,” Higgins said Friday. “I grew up in Saratoga; it’s the racetrack I grew up on, it’s where I really fell in love with horse racing. And the obvious, it’s Saratoga, in my personal opinion, the best racetrack in the country.”

Higgins said she became a steward because she was interested in learning “about regulation and about how the front side of the racetrack operated because I was really unfamiliar with it.”

There was an opening at Finger Lakes for an assistant to the steward, and things took off from there.

“I fell in love with it,” Higgins said.

Higgins on Monday will fill in for Dr. Ted Hill, the Jockey Club steward. The stewards at this meet have been extremely busy. Higgins said she will be prepared for whatever comes up.

“To be successful on the job, you can’t really be conflicted,” she said. “Your decision is your decision. If someone else disagrees with you, that’s how it goes. I’ve at least been watching horse racing my whole life. There are sometimes tricky calls, but the obvious calls, everyone can see them if you know what you’re watching.”