July 16, 2021
WTBOA Board Members Present: Mary Lou Griffin, Nina Hagen, Dana Halvorson, David Israel, Henry Leong, Petra Lewin, Greg Luce, Debra Pabst, Jennifer Webber.
WTBOA Board Members Absent: Pam Christopherson, Jim Engstrom, Dr. Duane Hopp.
WTBOA Staff Members Present: M. Anne Sweet.
The meeting was called to order at 12:23 p.m. via Zoom by President Halvorson.
Previous Board Minutes: Minutes from the May 21, 2021, meeting were presented and reviewed. Leong moved to approve the minutes as presented. Israel seconded the motion. The minutes were approved.
Finance: There is a $6,000 difference between actual and budgeted, mainly due to sales entries being less than expected.
Northwest Race Series: There were two $3,500 late nominations to the NWRS. $5,000 will be added to the Gottstein Futurity (for a total of $25,000 in NWRS funds added to the $50,000 purse, for a total purse of $75,000) and the remaining balance will be added to the Nominated Sire Awards ($500 added per race added, to equal $5,500 total per race).
Sales: A lengthy sales committee was held on July 15. Many minor details were hashed out. It was decided that the sale will follow the COVID-related health and safety protocols implemented by Emerald Downs.
There will be a Breeders’ Cup package auctioned off prior to Hip 1 to raise funds for the Washington Thoroughbred Foundation.
Publications: The sales catalog was mailed from the printer on July 15, as well as the bulk mailings. They should arrive at the office and individual recipients within a week.
Sweet and staff are currently working on the summer issue of the magazine. It is a bit behind due to van Dyke’s recent injury, but should still be mailed out in plenty of time prior to the sale, around the first of August.
WHRC/Emerald Downs update: Ed Martin from ARCI (Association of Racing Commissioners International) sat in on the most recent commission meeting. ARCI has formed boards and committees to discuss and identify issues surrounding HISA (Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act), which is scheduled to be implemented July 1, 2022. At this point ARCI is planning to cooperate with HISA.
There was a meeting between horsemen and Joe Olujic, CEO of Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. It was very informative and good communication was fostered between the two groups. One thing that the horsemen are going to need to do is step up and generate support from the legislators for the proposed sales tax bill going forward in next year’s session. Washington HBPA president Pat LePley feels that it is crucial that we get another Democrat to sponsor the bill. LePley is hoping to orchestrate a joint meeting between the WHBPA and the WTBOA so that both groups are working in unison. Time is of the essence because once Emerald Downs achieves land-to-trust status, the opportunity will no longer exist due to tax breaks granted through trust status.
Goals and Initiatives: Limited information has come from Emerald Downs regarding sponsorships. Phil Ziegler has directed the association to send potential sponsors to Wes Petree. It has been conveyed by Emerald that they are more interested in outside sponsors rather than internal. There is concern that a lack of communication between Emerald and the potential sponsors may turn them away. Halvorson is going to try to set up a follow up meeting with Ziegler.
Industry Promotional Video: Put on the back burner until after the meet.
Old Business: Halvorson is going to try to set up a follow up meeting with Ziegler next week to discuss sponsorships, moving on state legislation and improving relations on the backstretch.
TOBA: Halvorson discussed changing the requirements for the TOBA award recipients. Sweet will contact TOBA to ask for clarification regarding the parameters for state honorees.
Annual Membership Meeting: The fourth floor at Emerald Downs is being used as storage and unavailable to be used for the annual meeting. The track level pavilion (trackside tent) is available for use during the race meet. Discussion has been tabled until after the sale.
Board Elections: It’s once again time to recruit board nominees for the 2022-24 term. Sweet needs all nominations by October. Incumbents are Hagen, Israel, Lewin and Pabst.
Washington Cup: Israel asked if there was any update on adding additional WA Cup races. Pabst reported that Emerald Downs is still considering adding additional races this year per Jack Hodge. It will be dependent on sponsorships and horse population. [It was later learned that two two-year-old WA Cup stakes will be added on September 12.]
Israel asked if the Muckleshoot has a mission statement pertaining to Emerald Downs.
There was a reminder that the Washington Thoroughbred Foundation was eligible to receive donations through both Amazon Smile and Fred Meyer rewards. Sweet will mention it again in the next publication.
Next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 9, 2021, at 12:15 pm via zoom
It was moved by Israel and seconded by Griffin to adjourn the meeting at 1:56 p.m.
September 9, 2021, Meeting Minutes
Pending approval at next meeting
Next Meeting
Thursday, October 14, 2021
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Tuesday, October 19, 2021, 7pm
