May 21, 2021
WTBOA Board Members Present: Mary Lou Griffin, Dana Halvorson, David Israel, Henry Leong, Petra Lewin, Greg Luce, Debra Pabst, Jennifer Webber.
WTBOA Board Members Absent: Pam Christopherson, Jim Engstrom, Nina Hagen, Duane Hopp.
WTBOA Staff Members Present: M. Anne Sweet.
The meeting was called to order at 12:27 p.m. via zoom by President Halvorson.
Previous Board Minutes: Minutes from the March 19, 2021, meeting were presented and reviewed. Leong moved to approve the minutes as presented. Griffin seconded the motion. The minutes were approved.
Finance: There were three people that did not pay for their stallion season auction purchases (approximately $2,500 total). They did not breed their mares, so it will most likely have to be written off as bad debt. The purchasers will be banned from Thoroughlybred.com auctions in the future.
Sales entries were nearly identical to the budget.
The online fundraising auction was a success and on par with last year’s in-person banquet and auction.
Overall financial picture is good right now.
Northwest Race Series: There were two $3,500 late nominations at the May 15 NWRS deadline. The final opportunity to nominate for a $5,000 fee is June 25. The first two races in the NWRS are on July 18. Pabst is recommending that the extra $7,000 be divided between the stallion awards ($1,000 to each of four stakes) and $2,000 to the Gottstein, bringing the Gottstein purse to $72,000.
Sales: The sale has been scheduled for August 24. Final deadline for the last yearling payment is June 1. Currently there are 104 yearlings entered, plus 30 mares, including two with foals at side.
At the last sales committee meeting it was decided that the WTBOA would switch to Xcira for the sale’s online bidding platform. The company has agreed to prorate the $5,000 set-up fee over three years with $1,500 being due for each of the first two years and $2,000 the third year. There were two main reasons behind the decision to switch is that Xcira: one being that they are evolving their platform to cater to the Thoroughbred sales, and two, that since it is the platform utilized by all of the major sales companies, it would be more user-friendly to out-of-area buyers that are already familiar with the platform.
As the sale gets closer, the committee will decide what COVID-related protocols need to be implemented. It is hoped that it will be much less restrictive than in 2020.
Publications: Nothing to report. Sweet is planning to start working on advertising for the summer magazine issue and catalog as soon as hip numbers and final sales entries are available.
It is anticipated that the catalog will go to the printer June 28.
The summer issue of the magazine will go to printer approximately two weeks later and should be out around the first of August.
OLD BUSINESS
WHRC/Emerald Downs update: Emerald Downs has submitted a plan to the Governors’ office and are planning to have fans during the live races.
Bill 1022 did make it to the Governor’s desk, but there was a last-minute clause that will require the WHRC to apply again if they want continuous funding past 2022.
If members are licensed, they will not receive WTBOA membership cards this year. They will use their WHRC license for free admission to the races this year. If members are not licensed, they can go to Will Call and will receive a WTBOA membership card that will provide them with free admission for 2021. This was implemented in order to limit the number of people on site.
Industry Promotional Video: No update.
Goals and Initiatives: Luce filled out the application for a PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) loan, however the Small Business Administration ended the program early. The paperwork is ready to go if the program is reopened. He noted that the WTBOA would have been eligible to receive $37,000.
There was much discussion regarding finding sponsorships for additional stakes races during the 2021 Emerald Downs season. The WTBOA is willing to help, but as a group it was felt that more clarification and information is needed from Emerald management.
The meeting between some of the WTBOA board of trustees and Emerald management regarding adding Washington Cup races was productive and Emerald remains committed to the WA cup program. They are hopeful that they will be able to add some juvenile WA cup races towards the end of the meet if the handle and horse population will support it. Emerald did add four additional stakes races to the stakes schedule.
NEW BUSINESS
Darrin Paul was selected as the 2021 TOBA recipient.
Israel expressed his appreciation for the handle breakdown for opening day. The spreadsheet was shared by Emerald Downs.
Need to start thinking about the annual membership meeting, when it should be held, and if there will be a keynote speaker.
The next meeting is scheduled for July 16 at 12:15pm via Zoom. It will be preceded by the finance committee meeting at 11am.
Meeting was adjourned at 1:32pm. Motioned by Leong, seconded by Luce.
July 16, 2021, Meeting Minutes
Pending approval at next meeting
Next Meeting
Thursday, September 9, 2021
