Minutes
Ohio HBPA Board Meeting
11:00 am, Tuesday, June 24, 2025
Via Freeconferencecall.com
Members On Call: President Joe Poole Directors Susan Anderson, Linda Carrera, Bobby Cline, Christy Estvanko, Jeff Jarvis, Brian Poe, Kim Puhl, Mike Rone, Doug Shanyfelt, George Sikora
Members Not on Call: Tim Hamm
Others On Call: Executive Director Dave Basler, OHBPA Lobbyists Kyle Miller, Tom Pappas, Member Bob Bennett
Call to Order/ Approval of Minutes:
President Poole called the meeting to order. After review Director Poe moved and Director Cline seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the May 16, 2025 Ohio HBPA board of directors meeting. Motion passed.
Director Hamm is granted an excused absence for having a horse in at Thistledown on this date.
Special Order of Business:
OHBPA lobbyists Tom Pappas and Kyle Miller led a discussion regarding the budget bill detailing that we had been successful in our efforts to keep I- Gaming out of the bill. Pappas stated that I-Gaming would still be on legislators agenda moving forward and that we need to continue to communicate our position that if I-Gaming is legalized in Ohio racing must receive a share of the revenue. Pappas went through his recommendations for PAC contributions for the remainder of the year, a written copy of which had been provided to the board. Director Cline moved and Director Carrera seconded a motion to approve Pappas’s PAC recommendations. Motion passed.
Executive Director’s Report:
The executive director updated the board on the OHBPA’s HISA assessment fee lawsuit stating that all motions and responses to be due by August 1, 2025.
Basler and President Poole updated the board on the National HBPA executive committee meetings held at Fairmount Park earlier in the month where the main topics of conversation were HISA and national immigration issues impacting the racing industry.
New Business:
Purses and Wagering
Handouts were provided to the board showing VLT results for all three thoroughbred tracks in Ohio for May 2025 as well as previous VLT results for comparison purposes. Belterra Park showed a net win of $8,189,622 in May 2025 which up over $500,000 from the $7,634,251 net win in May 2024 at the track. Thistledown had a net VLT win of $17,619,351 in May which was a huge gain of over $2,200,000 from the prior May net win. Mahoning Valley had a net VLT win of $16,187,904 in May up over $1,100,000 from the $15,001,761 net win at Mahoning Valley in May 2024.
Basler detailed that the total funds available for purses at Mahoning Valley Race Course through June 1, 2025 was $3,500,374 compared to $2,195,144 available for purses at the track the prior June 1. Belterra Park had a purse account balance of $2,329,208 through April 1, 2025 compared to a balance of $4,343,182 on the same date in 2024.
Budget and Finance
Discussion was held regarding the purchase of a laptop computer for the field office manager at Thistledown and Mahoning Valley as she often helps members with HISA related reporting issues during non-office hours. Director Poe moved and Director Carrera seconded a motion that the executive director may purchase a laptop for the field office manager with the total price not to exceed $650. Motion passed.
Discussion was held regarding the next board meeting date with the board setting Friday, July 25, 2025 as the next meeting date beginning at 11am at the Ohio HBPA main office in Grove City.
Adjournment:
Director Rone moved and President Poole seconded a motion to adjourn. Motion passed.