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Minutes
Ohio HBPA Board Meeting
11AM, Wednesday, June 17, 2010
Sanese Center, Columbus, OH
Members Present:
President Jim Yaegel, Directors Randy Blevins, John Bourke, Mark Doering, Larry Eilers, Bob Reeves and Steve Roberts
Members Unable to Attend:
Directors Betty Alexander, Nancy Garrison, Tim Hamm, Robin Schuster and Rich Zielinski
Others Present:
Executive Director Dave Basler, Lobbyist Tom Pappas
Call To Order/ Approval of Minutes:
President Yaegel called the meeting to order. Director Blevins moved and Director Eilers seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the April 28, 2010 Ohio HBPA Board meeting. Motion passed.
Special Orders of Business:
Ohio HBPA lobbyist Tom Pappas and the executive director led an extensive discussion regarding the HBPA’s political strategy for insuring that the horsemen of Ohio receive a fair share of any revenues created through expanded gaming at Ohio’s racetracks including providing Board members handouts. Due to the sensitive nature of this discussion no further details will be included in these minutes.
President’s Report:
President Yaegel detailed to the Board that he had purchased two commercial ice machines at a price of $500 per machine after two of the four heads on the HBPA ice machine at River Downs were determined to be broken and the repair company had recommended purchasing a new machine at a price of over $6,000. After discussion Director Eilers moved and Director Doering seconded a motion that President Yaegel be authorized to purchase up to two additional ice machines to have in reserve at a maximum price of $500 per machine. Motion passed.
Executive Director’s Report:
The executive director detailed the horsemen’s meeting with Governor Strickland held June 6 at Eutropia Farms. Approximately 350 horsemen were present at the meeting and a very productive question and answer session was held, followed by the Governor personally meeting with all of our members who were interested. Overall, according to all involved the evening was a major success for the Ohio horse racing industry.
Basler detailed to the board that according to information he had received, the Penn National purchase of Beulah Park would be approved by the OSRC at its next meeting be held on June 23.
Basler also detailed that Harrah’s Entertainment had been the winning bidder for Thistledown at a price of $43 million during a bankruptcy auction held on May 25. Basler noted that unlike the previous auction held last September when Harrah’s winning bid had many contingencies the current sale had no such contingencies and the sale was scheduled to close on or before July 31.
The executive director informed the board that one of the candidates for election to the Ohio HBPA Board of Directors had send a letter stating that he felt he should be placed in the owner/trainer category rather than the owner-only category based on the fact that he was licensed by Ohio as both an owner and trainer. The executive director detailed why according to the Ohio HBPA Code of Regulations section 7.6 (b) 2. the candidate must be placed in the owner-only category due to the fact that he had not started a horse as a trainer in Ohio since 2004. After discussion Director Eilers moved and President Yaegel seconded a motion that the executive director send a letter he drafted, which was presented to the Board, to the candidate which details the reasons he would be placed in the owner-only category on the Ohio HBPA election ballot. Motion passed.
New Business:
- Purses and Wagering
The executive director and Director Reeves, chairman of the OHPBA Purse and Wagering Committee, detailed their recent negotiations with TVG in an effort to reach terms with the ADW company under which the HBPA would authorize sending the Ohio thoroughbred signals to TVG. The current sticking point is that TVG has, to this point, insisted on the splitting of source market fees on thoroughbred handle with the Ohio standardbred industry under terms, which if accepted by the OHBPA, would allow TVG to make purse contributions to the Ohio thoroughbred industry which are not comparable with the rates being paid by the other major ADW companies. While no motions were taken it was the sense of the board that the Ohio HBPA should not grant its consent to TVG to receive any of the Ohio thoroughbred signals until such time that a deal can be struck with TVG which places them on a level playing field in regards to rates paid by the other major ADW’s in regards to purse contributions made to the Ohio thoroughbred industry.
Basler presented and detailed a 2-page handout on 2009 ADW revenues received from the four major ADW companies.
The executive director updated the board on the current status of purse accounts at the three Ohio thoroughbred tracks.
- Government and External Affairs
Basler updated the board on a conference call of the OHBPA VLT Strategy
Committee. Due to the sensitive nature of these conversations no further details
will be provided in these minutes.
- Benevolence, Policies and Organization
The executive director detailed that the Ohio HBPA election nominating committee had nominated a total of 19 candidates for the 2010 HBPA election, with 13 being in the owner/trainer or trainer category and the other 6 nominees being in the owner-only category. Basler detailed that all of the candidates had been sent via certified mail their election packets and had until June 30, 2010 to return the materials to the HBPA’s business office in order to be placed on the 2010 Ohio HBPA election ballot.
The executive director detailed a personal benevolence request. Following discussion, President Yaegel moved and Director Eilers seconded a motion to deny the request. Motion passed.
The executive director detailed a personal benevolence request. Following discussion Director Doering moved and Director Eilers seconded a motion to grant $500 to cover the burial expenses of the requestor’s wife. Motion passed.
President Yaegel moved and Director Eilers moved that a member be granted $500 in benevolence after suffering a barn fire at his farm in which several horses died and all of the tack and supplies were lost. Motion passed.
Adjournment:
Director Doering moved and Director Blevins seconded a motion to adjourn. Motion passed.
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