Gary Terrien, a former owner, trainer and jockey's agent, began his new job Tuesday as assistant racing secretary at Hazel Park.

The chief duties in his new role include taking and overseeing entries; checking dates and eligibility for races.

"[Hazel Park racing secretary] Mary Anne Barron called me and asked if I wanted to be the assistant racing secretary until the end of the meet," Terrien said. "It'll be a good experience. I passed my steward's exam, so hopefully I'll be getting in the box next year." 

Terrien spent the first part of the meet as agent for leading Hazel Park jockeys Angel Stanley, Wayne Barnett, and Alvaro Hernandez-Lopez. He said Shane Benninger picked up the books for Stanley and Hernandez-Lopez.

The Hazel Park steward's ranks have been operating with a long-term hole in its roster following the death of steward James Long in April. Terrien said he hoped his strong local ties to Michigan's racing platoon would help make him an ideal candidate to fill the position on a permanent basis.