May 18, 2022
WTBOA Board Members Present: Melodie Bultena, Pam Christopherson, Mary Lou Griffin, Dana Halvorson, Henry Leong, Debra Pabst, Jenny Webber.
WTBOA Board Members Absent: Jim Engstrom, Nina Hagen, Dr. Duane Hopp, Petra Lewin, Greg Luce.
WTBOA Staff Members Present: Ann-Kathrin Zemann.
The meeting was called to order at 12:19 p.m. via zoom by President Halvorson.
Previous Board Minutes: Minutes from the April 6, 2022, meeting were presented and reviewed. Griffin moved to approve the minutes as presented. Bultena and Leong seconded the motion. The minutes were approved.
Finance: Pabst reported that the Finance Committee discussed two main things during the Finance Committee meeting. First, the transition from retired General Manager Anne Sweet to new General Manager Ann-Kathrin Zemann was costly but predictable. The costs involved will be reduced now that the magazine is done but might go up around sales time, since Anne Sweet will still help out as a consultant.
Furthermore, Steve McPherson (Blue Chip Thoroughbreds) was turned over to a collection agency. As of today, we have not received any payment but we received a list from the collection agency with debtors in the equine industry. This list will be very useful during sales time to check potential buyers against this list.
Northwest Race Series: Pabst mentioned that we received more stallion nominations for 2024 than expected.
Sales: As of now, there are 88 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, 11 broodmares were nominated for the Mixed Sale Session. The entries for the Summer Session Mixed Sale closed May 9, 2022. Rancho San Miguel might also enter broodmares to the WTBOA Sale in August.
The next sales committee meeting is scheduled for May 23, 2022.
Publications: The Spring/Champions Issue was published last week and is an online only issue. Zemann mentioned that a printed version of the magazine is send on demand from members that do not have access to a computer. The magazine is available online on the WTBOA website washingtonthoroughbred.com and was also distributed over the WTBOA Newsletter Gate to Wire. Sweet will still be assisting with the magazine, catalog and website as Zemann gets more familiar with the process.
Griffin and Pabst also discussed the next edition of the calendar. Griffin mentioned that it would be an acknowledgment to the breeders and owners of champion horses to picture their horses in the next edition of the calendar. Pabst and Griffin agreed to taking on the matter. Their result will be presented in the next board meeting.
WHRC/Emerald Downs update: Zemann reported that the Washington Horse Racing Commission unanimously voted to decline to collect and submit fees to the newly created Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) at a special meeting on April 22, 2022.
Emerald Downs opening day was May 15, 2022. Pabst mentioned that the mutual handle was approximately $2,3 million, the largest ever for a nine-race card at the Auburn oval.
Goals and Initiatives: Nothing to report.
Online Fundraising Auction: Zemann requested to postpone the dates for the online fundraising auction. The original dates were May 26, 2022, through May 31, 2022. The reason for postponing the dates is the scarcity of auction items. As of today, there are 37 items, compared to last year’s online auction which had 127 items listed. Halvorson recommended that the timed auction dates should be moved to June 15, 2022, as a starting date and June 21, 2022, as an end date. Zemann will send the list with the items we have to the board as an overview.
New Business
TOBA National Awards Dinner Nominees: Halvorson asked the board members to take a look at the list of nominees that was sent with the board packet. Board members should get their vote in by Thursday, May 19, 2022. Zemann will then send the name of the nominee with the most votes to TOBA.
Changing Banks (Bank of America to Columbia Bank): Griffin expressed the wish to change banks from Bank of America to Columbia Bank. The main reason for changing banks is the lack of customer care and service with the Bank of America. Pabst emphasized the complications the board ran into while taking of retired General Manager Anne Sweet as a signer on the WTBOA’s bank accounts and credit card. Zemann mentioned to the board to take into account that QuickBooks, PayPal, Authorize.net, Clover and a check scanner are all connected with the bank accounts at the Bank of America. Columbia Bank would have to provide similar services to the WTBOA, since these features are essential for smooth financial operation of the association and its customers.
Establishing Racing Hall of Fame Website with Emerald Downs: Emerald Downs wants to establish a domain for the Washington Racing Hall of Fame where interested person can read about breeders, trainers, jockeys and horses that were inducted into the Washington Racing Hall of Fame. The website will also inform about the history of horse racing in the state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest and will combine information found on washingtonthoroughbred.com, as well as emeralddowns.com.
The next meeting will be held June 17, 2022 at 12:15 p.m. in person at the WTBOA offices
It was moved by Halvorson and seconded by Griffin and Pabst to adjourn the meeting at 1:15 p.m. The meeting was adjourned.
June 17, 2022, Meeting Minutes
Pending approval at next meeting
Next Meeting Date
July 20, 2022
