June 23, 2017
Board Members Present: William P. Brewer, Tim Floyd, Mary Lou Griffin, Nina Hagen, Dana Halvorson, Greg Luce, Debra Pabst and Keith Swagerty. Absent: Pam Christopherson, Jim Engstrom, Dr. Duane Hopp and Jennifer Webber (Christopherson and Webber had planned to be on the conference phone, but unfortunately the phone connection was not available). Staff present: M. Anne Sweet.
The meeting was called to order at 12:25 p.m. at the WTBOA offices by President Halvorson.
Previous Board Minutes: Minutes from the May 12, 2017, meeting were presented and reviewed. One change/correction was noted. Brewer moved to approve the minutes with the changes noted. Hagen seconded the motion and the minutes were approved as noted.
Finance Committee Report: Treasurer Pabst reported that a negative $19,000, due to a late payment to consignors after the beginning of the current budget year, is still impacting the P & L. Track dues for the non-live simulcasting season have been received from Emerald Downs. They were up from last year, due to an increase in number of days during the non-live season. Sale entries are up more than expected. On the expense side, another compressor that is part of the HVAC system has failed and will need to be replaced. We will be seeking bids for painting the sales pavilion foyer, bar and front hallway.
Northwest Race Series (NWRS): Chairman Pabst reported that the NWRS fund balances are healthy. All of the money has now been transferred from RBC Wealth Management to a NWRS designated account at Bank of America. She also noted that the Gottstein Futurity has been moved to one week later – now scheduled for Sunday, September 24 – as a result of the Emerald Downs meet being extended by one week. While the Gottstein Futurity is no longer part of the NWRS, there is $30,000 in NWRS funds that will be split among the top five NWRS-nominated finishers in the Gottstein, no matter where they place.
Sales Committee Report: Halvorson reported on a product called Microsol Equine Formula EF-2. It is a mold and fungus spray that was developed by a PhD and is approved by the FDA. It is safe, effective and easily applicable. The person who approached Halvorson offered to send someone up to help apply the product and will give the product to us to use if we pay to get the person up here. Discussion followed. It was noted that we are currently disinfecting the stalls with Tek-Trol, which has proven to be satisfactory. Halvorson will continue to gather information.
Publications Report: Sweet reported that the sale catalog and the summer issue of the magazine are in progress. She asked for input regarding which WTBOA Sales horses to feature on the cover of the catalog. It was decided that rather than a single horse, the following four horses would be featured: 2016 Champions Mach One Rules, Invested Prospect and So Lucky and 2017 multiple stakes winner Citizen Kitty.
Washington Horse Racing Commission/Emerald Downs Report: Sweet reported that one point of discussion was in regards to the Horseracing Integrity Act of 2017, a Bill that has been presented in the US Senate and House of Representatives. The intent of the Bill is “to improve the integrity and safety of horseracing by requiring a uniform anti-doping and medication control program to be developed and enforced by an independent Horseracing Anti-Doping and Medication Control Authority.” Commission Chairman Jeff Colliton suggested that it would be good for all stakeholders to review the content of this Bill, which is available online for review.
Emerald Downs reported that it has 21 teams for this year’s Indian Relay Race versus 18 teams last year. Emerald’s races are now considered to be first class racing in the Indian relay racing world. Canterbury Park is also hosting Indian Relay Races, and there may be a third track also participating next year for a Relay Triple Crown event. It was also noted that most of Emerald’s social media interaction is a result of the Indian Relay Races, along with the camel and ostritch races and the wiener dog races.
Emerald Downs also requested an additional weekend of racing, on Saturday and Sunday, September 23 and 24. The request was made to help make up for lost training and race days due to inclement weather early in the meet. The additional days were approved.
Sun Down may shift their spring dates next year to begin on Kentucky Derby weekend, followed by the next two weekends, rather than ending on Kentucky Derby weekend, as they have in the past.
Annual Membership Meeting: The agenda for the Annual Membership Meeting was reviewed and discussed. Keynote speakers will be Emerald Downs President Phil Ziegler and Washington State Department of Agriculture Field Veterinarian Dr. Thomas Gilliom. Emerald Downs has the audio-video equipment that will be needed for Dr. Gilliom’s PowerPoint presentation, but we may need a laptop, if he doesn’t have one. Sweet will check out the price of purchasing a laptop, if it is needed. It was also decided that we should conclude with a State of the Industry address, which could include a discussion of the number of foals, sales averages, number of stallion, etc. This information is available from The Jockey Club. Also included would be a discussion of some of the WTBOA programs, such as the Sales Incentive Program (SIP) and the WTBOA Homebred Incentive Program (WHIP), and perhaps concluding with discussion about what WTBOA members can do to help the industry. Luce offered to present this part of the program. It was suggested that we purchase five $50 gift certificates from the Emerald Downs gift shop to give as door prizes. It was also suggested that Board members should not be eligible to receive door prizes (although it was later decided that spouses could be eligible). Hagen moved that five $50 gift cards be purchased for door prizes as outlined. Brewer seconded the motion, which was approved.
Nominees for the WTBOA Board of Directors: Incumbents for the 2018-2020 term of the WTBOA Board of Director are Brewer, Griffin, Halvorson and Webber. It is hoped that all will run again. Swagerty offered to be the point of contact for other nominees or suggested nominees. It was noted that John Parker may be interested in running again. [Unfortunately, Brewer later contacted Sweet and stated his intent not to run again. He stated that he had put a lot of thought into it and that it had not been an easy decision.]
TOBA Winner for 2016: Jean Harris and her son Jeff Harris’s Clemans View Farm was named Washington’s TOBA winner for 2016. Due to changes in the TOBA staff, as well as lost e-mail information, the WTBOA staff had not received the nomination query from TOBA until it was actually past the deadline. Hence, Halvorson had reviewed the potential nominees with staffers Sweet and Susan van Dyke. In 2018, the selection of the previous year’s TOBA winner will be included on the April 2018 Board agenda.
Washington State Fair “All Breeds” Horse Exhibit: Sweet had received a request from the coordinator of livestock exhibits at the Washington State Fair. This person was interested in receiving contact information for a Thoroughbred farm or family who might be interested in having their horse or horses on display to help educate the public about Thoroughbreds. Pabst expressed a willingness to attend for a few days, but not the entire time. It was also suggested that Gwen Blake at Donida Training Center might be interested in attending with off-the-track Thoroughbreds. Sweet will pass along the contact info for Pabst and Blake to the livestock coordinator.
Next Meeting Date: The next meeting was scheduled for Thursday, September 7, 2017.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:20 p.m.
September 7, 2017, Meeting Minutes
Pending approval at next meeting
Next Meeting
Tuesday, October 24, 2017