June 17, 2022
WTBOA Board Members Present:
In Person: Mary Lou Griffin, Dana Halvorson, Henry Leong, Petra Lewin, Debra Pabst.
Over Zoom: Melodie Bultena, Pam Christopherson, Nina Hagen, Jenny Webber.
WTBOA Board Members Absent: Jim Engstrom, Dr. Duane Hopp, Greg Luce.
WTBOA Staff Members Present: Ann-Kathrin Zemann.
Guest Present: WHBPA Executive Director MaryAnn O’Connell
The meeting was called to order at 12:41 p.m. via zoom by President Halvorson.
Previous Board Minutes: Minutes from the May 18, 2022, meeting were presented and reviewed. Leong moved to approve the minutes as presented. Griffin seconded the motion. The minutes were approved.
Finance: Pabst reported that the Finance Committee discussed the general financial situation of the WTBOA. The financial situation needs to be revisited after the sale, which will also determine the things we will have to cut in the future. Furthermore, the WTBOA was informed that the case Steve McPherson/Blue Chip Thoroughbreds was closed as uncollectible. Pabst also mentioned that the WTBOA will again sponsor two categories at the Ride for the Roses at Donida Farms this year: the Grand Champion Derby Class, as well as the new Champion Trifecta.
Northwest Race Series: Pabst mentioned that nothing has changed on the NWRS. We did not receive any additional nominations within the May 13, 2022 deadline for $3500 or the June 24, 2022 deadline for $5000 yet.
HISA: O’Connell reported and answered questions about the imminent changes through the Horseracing and Safety Authority Act (HISA), which will be implemented starting July 1, 2022. Board Members were concerned about, inter alia, HISA representatives visiting their farms as they please. O’Connell mentioned that only approved Thoroughbred training centers could be affected by that. O’Connell is unsure if it would affect any farms here in Washington State. Furthermore, HISA softened their language and will implement their rules and conditions gradually. The Racetrack Safety Rules will take effect July 1, 2022. The Anti-Doping and Medication Control rules will take effect January 1, 2023. The “shoeing rule” has been put off until August of this year. The shoeing rule limits the height of rims used as traction devices. Moreover, Emerald Downs and the Washington Horse Racing Commission (WHRC) do not have the employees to check the shoeing of the horses racing at the Auburn oval. The WHRC is not enforcing to sign up with HISA. It is an individual decision. Griffin expects the biggest push-back from people that own racehorses.
Sales: Webber reported that the starting time for this year’s WTBOA Summer Yearling and Mixed Sale was moved from 2 p.m. to 1 p.m. in the afternoon. The time was changed due to the fact that the auctioneers could not have left in time to get to the airport to catch their flight, hence they requested the time change. Webber also emphasized that we should advertise the time change since potential buyers are used to our former sale time at 2p.m. As of now, there are 85 yearlings nominated for this year’s sale in August. 75 of these horses were within the Early Bird Nomination deadline, that ended March 25, 2022. 13 yearlings were nominations for the Yearling Summer Session that closed April 29, 2022. Additionally, 19 broodmares and one weanling were nominated for the Mixed Sale Session. The deadline for the paddock session entries is on July, 27, 2022. The next sales committee meeting is scheduled for July 7, 2022.
Publications: Anne Sweet, Sue van Dyke and Zemann are working on advertising for the sales catalog. After that, the sales catalog pages will be put together and send to the printer by mid-July.
WHRC/Emerald Downs update: Halvorson reported that the WHRC decided that a portion of the regulations promulgated by the newly created Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2022. Regulations approved by the Federal Trade Commission currently are the 2000 Series, Racetrack Safety, 8000 Series, Violations, Sanctions, Hearing Procedures, and Investigatory Powers, and 8500 Series, Methodology for Determining Assessments. Sections of the Series 2000, specifically the 2100 series regarding racetrack accreditation, will be phased in over the next year allowing racetracks the opportunity to create the numerous committees and locate personnel needed to perform the duties associated with the safety requirements. Halvorson also mentioned that the Horse Racing Commission is looking for a replacement for Dr. Macomber, since his current term is over and the he has already served the maximum number of terms. Pabst suggested Dr. John Procter as a possible replacement.
Goals and Initiatives: Nothing to report.
Online Fundraising Auction: Zemann reported on the new dates for the WTBOA Online Auction. The online fundraiser will run from June 22, 2022, 8:00 a.m. through June 28, 2022, 8:00 p.m.
New Business
Letter to Attorney General: The WTBOA received a letter from the attorney general in which Joe Hiibel accused the association of false advertising, regarding their free admission passes to Emerald Downs during live racing season. In the past, WTBOA members got these passes as part of their membership benefits. Emerald Downs Racing LLC changed their policy regarding providing free admission passes for WTBOA members. The aforementioned provisions entail that WTBOA-members that are licensed through the WHRC as trainers, owners, etc. will not receive the WTBOA-designated passes. The reason for this lies in the fact that WHRC licensees are already granted free access to the live races through their commission license. In fact, WHRC licensees are also able to put people on will-call to have family and/or friends join the live races at no cost. Therefore, in essence, the WTBOA membership benefits for Mr. Hiibel have not changed. Zemann read the letter that was sent back to the Attorney General and mentioned that we are now waiting for an answer from the Attorney General’s office.
WTBOA Annual Membership Meeting: The Board decided to host an Annual Membership Meeting over Zoom this year. A date has not been set yet.
July 20, 2022, Meeting Minutes
Pending approval at next meeting
Next Meeting Date
July 20, 2022
