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April 17, 2008
Minutes of the Board of Directors Meeting
Okemos, MI
(Subject to board approval)
Present:
B. Alexander, T. Barrett, A.
Bennett, B. Boyd, M. Breuer-Bertera, C. Cary-Davidson, K. Greengard, F.
Kayden, E. Oldford, M. Sweeney, H. Vaupel, M. Walker
President Boyd called the meeting to order
at 12:40 p.m. A moment of silence was
observed in memory of Y. Bertera, D. Boido, T. Jarrell Jr., C.
McIlmurray, C. Pixley, and K. Rocheleau.
Motion was made by Vaupel
supported by Sweeney, to approve the minutes of the March 20, 2008, board
meeting; motion passed unanimously. (Greengard
entered at 12:45)
Legislative: Knight reported that the legislature has
returned to session and is acting on a package of energy bills which will
result in increased electric charges for all state residents. Senate hearings on the FY09 Budget Bill
started yesterday; representatives of the racing industry will give testimony
before the Ag. Appropriations Subcommittee on 4/30. The state will have calculations of first
quarter revenue generation and the impact of the new Michigan Business Tax by
May 15, and will create new budget targets at that time.
Track Committee Reports:
Northville Downs: The live meet ended 4/5. Average daily handle was $57,219 compared
to $57,724 the previous year. Average
daily purses were $49,078 compared to $52,713 the previous year. The purse pool was overpaid $51,000. A total of 54 programs were drawn, and
there were a total of 82 short fields; short fields have a negative impact on
the purse pool by eliminating the possibility for some exotic wagers.
Sports Creek: Average daily
purses are $19,344 compared to $20,626 the previous year when the meet ended
March 11. 42 programs have been drawn through 4/13, with a total of 182 short
fields. The live meet ends on 5/4.
Hazel Park: Hazel Park opens 4/18, with
live racing Mon., Tues., Fri., Sat; post time 7:25. A track committee meeting was held on
4/8. 185 stalls have been allotted,
anyone entering the barn area will be required to sign a liability waiver,
and the lasix barn has been moved to the west end of ship-in barn 14. Hazel Park races will be simulcast into the
Las Vegas sports books on Mon. and Tues. nights; export revenues to the purse
pool are projected to be approximately $1,125/month but the main advantage
will be the increased wagering pools.
A horsemen’s meeting will be held on opening night to address
presentation and the importance of full fields and 12-race cards. Daily purses are projected at $57,261, a 3%
increase over purses at the close of the 2007 meet. Hazel Park will host a Press Party opening
night, and will also feature a Dollar Night promotion opening weekend.
Colt
Stake: Corrion presented the futurity nomination
and sustaining statistics. There has
been a decrease in sustaining in all age groups; most evident is the 20.5%
decline in the 2-year old payments, when there was a 12% decrease in that
foal crop.
The fairs have received their letters of
approval for colt stake and overnight funding from the Dept. of Ag.
Boyd met with Ohio Harness Horsemen’s
Association President, Jerry Knappenberger, on 4/12; and is still exploring
some type of Michigan/Ohio late closer for 2009. The colt stake committee will continue to
pursue colt stake blanket sponsorships for this year.
Personnel
Committee: Kayden and Stackpole are proceeding with
the framework for restructuring job descriptions.
ORC
Advisory: Boyd and Kayden met with Christine White
and Gary Post from the ORC to discuss several concerns raised by the MHHA board
and our members. A letter outlining
these issues--integrity, ORC position on eligibility to drive in pari-mutuel
races, future of racing and breeding in Michigan, and realignment of live
racing/qualifying schedules—was mailed to the ORC as a basis for the
discussion. The ORC is attempting to
establish formal written rules on some matters, rather than following
“policies” as has been done in the past.
White stated that the ORC is basically a regulatory agency, but they
will support any marketing efforts of our industry.
Driver/Trainer: Cary-Davidson
reported that there have been several “conflict of interest” issues regarding
trainers and drivers competing in the same race. The MHHA will make effort to assist the ORC
in developing their rules governing these situations.
Finance: Financial
statements for the first five months of the fiscal year ending 2/29/08 were
e-mailed to the board prior to the meeting.
The Finance Committee met this morning and Vaupel reports that
Association revenues have decreased; expenses have increased. The board will continue to institute
cost-saving measures.
Boyd and Corrion met with B. Hensinger from
the Dept. of Ag. on 3/27 to discuss proposed additional cuts to line items
from the Ag. Equine Fund for the remainder of the fiscal year, based on
projected revenue through 9/30/08. A
summary was distributed to board members via e-mail and a vote was taken by
phone and e-mail. Motion to revise “Outs” Distribution and realign pari-mutuel
supplements to accommodate 21% funding cut and revised “outs” as mailed;
motion passed unanimously.
The Dept. of Ag. just released their FY
2008 Status Report on the Ag. Equine Fund for the period 10/07-2/08; a slight
increase in simulcast tax revenue has decreased the initial projected deficit
of $2,085,623 to a YTD projected deficit of $1,617,575.
Amateur
Drivers: Walker reported that the committee is
attempting to schedule a Michigan Amateur Drivers’ six-race series with a
final at the pari-mutuel tracks this year.
They are still exploring sanctioning and purse structure.
Old
Business: Rick Sigsby presented a book proposal at the
March meeting and asked for financial support for the project; action was
tabled at that time. Motion by Bennett, supported by Sweeney,
that in consideration of the financial condition of the Association, we
decline financial support at this time; motion passed 11-1 (Greengard
opposed).
Stackpole reviewed prior action on the
Harness Horsemen’s International insurance dues and annual membership fee,
and Oldford presented the March HHI minutes concerning this issue. Motion
by Kayden, supported by Greengard, to send HHI a check for $2,500 for payment
of 2008 membership dues and a check for $4,383 towards reduction of the
$22,500 balance in dispute for 2006 third party liability insurance premium.
New
Business: Bennett attended the Pinnacle Race Park
thoroughbred track in Romulus ground breaking ceremony on 4/4; he presented
drawings of the project. Construction
is proceeding as planned, with opening day scheduled for 7/18/08.
Sweeney reported that the golf outing to
benefit the IPC fund will be held on 6/12 at the Genesee Valley Meadows Golf
Course; details will be in the magazine and on the website.
Future board meetings will be Thursdays,
5/15, and 6/19 at 12:30 p.m. There
being no further business to come before the board and upon motion by
Vaupel, supported by Cary-Davidson, meeting was adjourned at 4:35 p.m.
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