Minutes
Ohio HBPA Board Meeting
11:00 am, Friday, March 25th, 2022
Ohio HBPA Main Office, Grove City, OH
Members Present: President Joe Poole Directors: Bobby Cline, Mark Doering, Jeff Jarvis Bruce Miller, Dick McCall, Mike Rone, John Royer, Kristi Tumblin and Kim Williams
Members Unable to Attend: Susan Anderson, Robin Schuster
Others Present:
Executive Director Dave Basler, OHBPA Lobbyist Tom Pappas
Call to Order/ Approval of Minutes:
President Poole called the meeting to order. After review President Poole moved and Director Miller seconded a motion to approve the minutes of the January 27th, 2022 Ohio HBPA board of directors meeting. Motion passed.
Executive Director’s Report:
The executive director updated the board regarding the current status of the OHBPA’s lawsuit against Belterra Park et. al Detailing that he along with the OHBPA’s legal team at Porter Wright had completed the defense’s request for discovery materials and they had been turned over to the defense. Basler also informed the board that the Judge had granted a 4 month extension on the discovery process as Belterra’s attorneys have indicated that they plan to turn over more than 1 million separate items.
Basler updated the board on the latest happenings involving HISA detailing that the Authority had until April 1st to submit budgets to each state racing commission telling them the expense amounts they would be responsible for during the first year and that the commissions would then have until the first week of May to decide if the wanted to opt out in which case under the law the racetracks would be responsible for collecting the assessments. Basler informed that the New Jersey Racing Commission had already announced that they will be opting out of HISA.
President Poole and the executive director recapped the National HBPA convention which they had attended earlier in the month along with Directors Schuster and Tumblin.
New Business:
Purses and Wagering
Basler updated the board on the current status of the purse accounts at all three Ohio thoroughbred tracks which showed the purse accounts at all three tracks ahead of where they were at the same points last year. Discussion was held regarding the numbers including purse increases for the upcoming meets at both Belterra Park with Basler stating the purse increase at Belterra would be between 5 and 7% per race and the increase at Thistledown would be 10% per race from closing levels at the 2021 meets at those tracks.
Basler went through handouts provided to the board showing VLT revenues for the state’s seven commercial racetracks which showed that the net win at Thistledown for February , 2022 was $14,371,170 up over $750,000 from the previous February. Mahoning Valley recorded a net win of $12,553,773 in February up approximately 12% from the February, 2021 net win figure at the track. The net win at Belterra Park was $6,795,789 which was up approximately 5% from the prior year figure.
Benevolence, Policies and Organization
Following discussion Directors Cline, Doering and Jarvis volunteered to serve on the nominating committee for the 2022 OHBPA Board of Directors election.
The executive director announced the hiring of Diane Sexton as the new Ohio HBPA administrative assistant,
Budget and Finance
Following discussion, Director Doering moved and President Poole seconded a motion that the owner(s) of each horse in the eighth race on February 21st at Mahoning Valley Race Course which was declared a no contest by the stewards, receive a total of $250 from the Industry Initiative Fund to help defer expenses incurred. Motion passed.
Director Cline moved and Director Rone seconded a motion that a $1,000 sponsorship be donated from the Industry Initiative Fund to the Track Superintendent’s Conference to be held in June, 2022 at Gulfstream Park. Motion passed.
Director Doering moved and President Poole seconded a motion that up to $500 be paid from the Industry Initiative Fund to each Ohio track superintendent who attends the aforementioned Track Superintendent’s Conference to help cover travel expenses when receipts are provided verifying those expenses. Motion passed.
Director Jarvis moved and Director Williams seconded a motion to enter executive session to discuss personnel matters. Motion passed.
Following discussion Director Jarvis moved and Director Doering seconded a motion that the field office manager salary for Mahoning Valley and Thistledown be increased to $600 per week. Motion passed.
President Poole moved and Director Miller seconded a motion that a $12,000 contribution be made from the Industry Initiative Fund to the Race Track Chaplaincy of America for chaplaincy services at Belterra Park during the 2022 racing season. Motion passed.
Following discussion Director Jarvis moved and Director Williams seconded a motion that the executive director be instructed to contact the Race Track Chaplaincy of America about finding a replacement for the chaplain at Mahoning Valley and Thistledown following the end of the current Mahoning Valley meet. Motion passed with Director Doering voting no.
Director Jarvis moved and Director Doering seconded a motion to leave executive session. Motion passed.
Following extensive discussion regarding a funding request made via letter from the OTBO Director Jarvis moved and Director Williams seconded a motion that a check for $25,000 from the Industry Initiative Fund be paid to the OTBO for continuing operations upon receipt of both the final 2021 OTBO financial statements as well as the first quarter 2022 financial statement. Motion passed with Directors Doering and Tumblin voting no and Director Royer abstaining.
Following discussion the date for the next OHBPA board meeting was set for Monday, May 23rd, 2022 beginning at 11:00am at the main OHBPA office.
Adjournment:
President Poole moved and Director Rone seconded a motion to adjourn. Motion passed.