Minutes
Ohio HBPA Board Meeting
11:00 am, Friday, December 6th, 2024
Via freeconferencecall.com
Members Present: President Joe Poole Directors: Susan Anderson, Linda Carrera, Bobby Cline, Christy Estvanko, Tim Hamm, Jeff Jarvis, Brian Poe, Kim Puhl, George Sikora,
Members Not on Call: Mike Rone, Doug Shanyfelt
Others Present: Executive Director Dave Basler, Lobbyist Kyle Miller from Ohio HBPA lobbying firm Tom Pappas and Associates
Call to Order/ Approval of Minutes:
President Poole called the meeting to order. After review President Poole moved and Director Cline seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the November 15, 2024 Ohio HBPA board of directors meeting. Motion passed.
Director Poe moved and Director Estvanko seconded a motion to grant Director Shanyfelt an excused absence from this OHBPA board of directors meeting due to his hip replacement earlier in the week. Motion passed.
Special Order of Business
Lobbyist Kyle Miller provided the board an update on the 2024 Ohio election results with Republicans maintaining firm control of both the Ohio House and Senate.
Executive Director’s Report:
Basler updated the board regarding the status of the National HBPA lawsuit against HISA stating that the United States Supreme Court was expected to decide which of the cases against HISA, if any, it would hear in January 2025. The executive director informed the board that National HBPA counsel Daniel Suhr remains confident that the National HBPA case will be heard by the Supreme Court with oral arguments likely to be held this winter and a decision rendered by the court at the end of June or in early July, 2025.
Discussion was also held regarding the current quarantine situation in barn 4 at Mahoning Valley. President Poole moved and Director Anderson seconded a motion that the Ohio HBPA cover the cost of Strangles tests for the horses in barn 4 from the Industry Initiative Fund provided they are billed at the same rate as the HBPA was charged for the quarantine Strangles testing in the winter/spring 2024. Motion passed. Director Carrera abstained.
Discussion was held regarding a conference call between Belterra Park Management and the OHBPA Belterra Park Track Kitchen committee about the 2025 track kitchen situation at Belterra Park. While some progress was made on the call at this time the committee didn’t have any written offers from Belterra Park management to present to the board.
New Business:
Purses and Wagering
Discussion was held regarding the 2025 OTRF program. At this time the OHBPA OTRF committee was still working on a 2025 allowance and maiden special weight race schedule.
Budget and Finance
Discussion was held regarding the OHBPA investments with the executive director providing handouts of the current account balances as well as the year-to-date performance of the accounts to the board.
Discussion was held regarding the date for the next Ohio HBPA board of directors meeting with Friday, January 10th, 2025 being chosen as the date. The meeting will begin at 11:00am at the OHBPA main office in Grove City, Ohio.
Adjournment:
Director Jarvis moved and Director Cline seconded a motion to adjourn. Motion passed.