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Horsemen's Groups Announce Election Results

National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association affiliates in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia have announced results of elections for their boards of directors.

Calder to Charge Off-Season Stall Rent

In an announcement Sept. 28, Calder Casino & Race Course said that effective Dec. 1, 2012, it will charge a stabling fee of $10 per stall per day during its off-season months when it does not have live racing.

At Large: Things That Make You Go Hmmmm (10)

Talking out both sides of the mouth ... and trying to make sense of it all.

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What's Going On Here - National Focus Needed

Concept isn't new...but worth revisiting...

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Southwest Regional: A State of Hope

Texas horsemen gear up for last, best run at video lottery terminals

Kentucky HBPA Announces Election Results

The Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association said Nov. 23 the results of its 2009 election have been certified by a public accountant.

NY Bill Gives Group More Money From Purses

A New York horsemen's group will continue to get additional purse money to fund its operations, including health benefits for backstretch workers at New York Racing Association tracks, under final passage of legislation July 16 by the state Senate.

No Ruling Yet in West Virginia Exclusions

No ruling was issued July 8 after a hearing in the ongoing exclusion case involving horsemen at Charles Town Races & Slots in West Virginia.

KY Horsemen Make Case to Legislators

More than 100 people who make their living in the Kentucky horse industry made their case to three Northern Kentucky legislators Feb. 16, and the message was clear: The economics must change or the state will lose a valuable asset.

Ellis Handle Drops, But Geary 'Content'

Ellis Park ended its annual racing meet Sept. 1 with a 3% drop in daily handle, despite broader signal distribution to advance deposit wagering outlets.

Mountaineer: New Election, Old Issues

It began in 2006 with an anonymous flyer questioning the effectiveness of the Mountaineer Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, and snowballed into allegations, a protest, litigation, and paper trail that led some to question the validity of the association's most recent election.

Handle, Purses Drop at Churchill Downs

Churchill Downs' 52-day spring meet closed July 6 with steep declines in handle and purses, likely results of a well-publicized clash between track officials and horsemen over wagering revenue.

CDI, Florida Horsemen Still at Impasse

With two weeks left before Calder Race Course's July 12 Summit of Speed, Churchill Downs Inc. and the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association remain deadlocked in contract talks for the Miami Gardens, Fla., track.

Evans: CDI Committed to End ADW Dispute

A leading executive of Churchill Downs Inc. told a gathering of shareholders June 19 that he didn't know when a nasty revenue-sharing dispute with horsemen would be resolved, but promised the company would do its part in reaching a satisfactory conclusion for all.

Deal May Give Calder Preakness Signal

An official of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association said on May 14 that his organization will issue a proposal that would enable Calder Race Course to carry the simulcast signal of the May 17 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) -- with a condition.

Gordon Re-elected Florida HBPA President

Sam Gordon was elected to a fourth term as president of the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association at the organization's regularly scheduled March 31 board meeting.

Commentary: Half Empty

By Dan Liebman - The Breeders' Cup should be a win-win for the organization and the host track.

Maryland: Study Needed on Steroids

The Maryland Racing Commission remains committed to regulating anabolic steroids in racehorses, but will delay implementation of a model rule given questions about the rule itself and laboratory testing procedures.

New York THA Wants Issues Addressed

The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association released a statement Jan. 10 urging the state to address issues of importance to the 6,000 members of its group as negotiations continue on the long-term extension of the New York Racing Association franchise.

TOC, Arkansas HBPA Join Coalition

The Thoroughbred Owners of California and Arkansas Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association have joined the new Thoroughbred Horsemen's Group, launched Dec. 5 to facilitate simulcast activities and improve the economics of the pari-mutuel model.

Philly Park, Horsemen Strike Deal

Greenwood Gaming and Entertainment and the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association announced Dec. 10 they have extended their live racing contract at Philadelphia Park Casino and Racetrack for seven years, with Greenwood promising to make substantial improvements to the backstretch as well as revert most of the grandstand back to a venue for horseplayers.

National HBPA Sets Meeting Forums

The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association will address rebates, computer-assisted wagering, equine drug testing, immigration, and other issues during its winter convention scheduled for Jan. 24-28, 2008, in New Orleans.

Hale Named Charles Town HBPA Executive Director

The Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association has hired racing industry veteran Lenny Hale as its new executive director, the organization announced Oct. 1.

Horsemen: Fix Account Wagering Mess Now

Horsemen are calling for an end to the stalemate over account wagering; and even though providers say they want it to end as well, there doesn't appear to be a resolution in sight.

New York THA Breaks From Empire Racing

The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association is breaking its ties with Empire Racing Associates, a move that will further throw into confusion the process for naming a franchise holder to operate Aqueduct, Belmont Park, and Saratoga.

Gallagher Named Executive Director of New York THA

Jim Gallagher, most recently a consultant for the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium, has been named executive director of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association.

Delaware Horsemen Sponsoring Workers' Comp Program

Trainers at Delaware Park are being offered a horsemen's group-sponsored workers' compensation program as well as a $1-million general liability insurance policy at no additional cost.

Philly Horsemen Blast Track's New Slots Plan

The horsemen's group at Philadelphia Park Casino & Racetrack is fighting a petition by the track to add to its temporary slot-machine casino and delay construction of a permanent facility.

In Call for Unity, National HBPA Rescinds Hiles Ban

In what they said is an effort to promote unity, officials with the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association have rescinded a resolution that banned the Kentucky HBPA president from serving in an official capacity with the organization.

NTRA President: Status Quo Won't Cut It

National Thoroughbred Racing Association president Alex Waldrop said the organization continues to be relevant, but industry stakeholders must commit to its long-term health.

Immigration Bill Brings Call for Political Action

Horsemen's groups and other industry stakeholders must educate lawmakers on the importance of foreign workers to the racing industry and other agricultural businesses, panelists said during a Feb. 8 workshop.

Protest Filed in Controversial Mountaineer HBPA Election

Trainer Jami Poole, who lost the race for president of the Mountaineer Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association by only eight votes, has officially protested the organization's recent election.

Indiana HBPA Conducting Special Election for All Seats

The Indiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association is conducting a special election to fill the office of president and each of 10 board seats. The election comes in response to dissention among the membership after four elected officials were removed last November for allegedly violating the organization's bylaws.

TOC Acts on Northern California Recommendations

As part of an effort to address concerns raised by several Northern California members, the Thoroughbred Owners of California held an open forum July 28 at Golden Gate Fields and pledged to act on several recommendations.

Again, No Apparent Handle on Pari-Mutuel Handle

A two-hour discussion on account wagering and secondary pari-mutuel operations July 14 again revealed horsemen have knowledge of situations that suck revenue from purse accounts, but no definitive national strategy to recoup the money.

National HBPA Has NTRA Membership Plan

The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association is moving ahead with plans to implement a lump-sum payment that would reduce its annual National Thoroughbred Racing Association membership dues by about 50% but almost triple the number of NTRA-member HBPA affiliates.

Northern California Horsemen Consider Breakaway Organization

About 200 Northern California horsemen have signed a petition supporting the formation of a new trainer/owner organization to represent them in negotiations with racetrack associations and others, saying they believe their affiliation with the Thoroughbred Owners of California is no longer adequate.

Indiana HBPA Dispute Could Be Far From Over

Three ousted members of the Indiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association board of directors won a small battle Jan. 24 when the National HBPA executive committee ruled in their favor and recommended a new election. However, it appears the war between two Indiana HBPA factions is far from over.

System Would Increase Revenue From Account Bets

An electronic commerce company hopes to introduce a Web-based program that would convert legal pari-mutuel Internet wagers into on-track bets, thus increasing the share of revenue to tracks and horsemen.

Charles Town Horsemen's Group in Flux Yet Again

The president and vice president of the Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association have resigned, and a West Virginia owner/breeder who headed the organization when video lottery terminals were introduced in the mid-1990s has again taken over as president.

National HBPA Again to Discuss Offshore Wagering

The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association again will tackle the issues of offshore simulcasts, pirating, and horsemen's rights during its winter convention scheduled for Jan. 21-25 in Tampa, Fla.

Removed Indiana HBPA Board Members Appeal to National

A dispute over an e-mail and alleged flyer posted at a southern Indiana training center has resulted in the dismissal of recently elected Indiana Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association president Jim Riddle and three board members. They have appealed the matter to the National HBPA.

Ohio HBPA Board Ousts President; Focus to Shift

The Ohio Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association voted Dec. 13 to oust president Gus George and replace him with Jim Yaegel, who will complete the term through the fall of 2006.

Roark to Lead Restructured National HBPA

John Roark of Texas was elected to his third consecutive term as president of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association July 24 after the organization's board of directors approved a major restructuring plan.

Capitol Hill Becomes NTRA's Big Selling Point

The National Thoroughbred Racing Association's ongoing efforts in Washington, D.C. have become the major carrot as the organization seeks to sign up horsemen's associations for five-year memberships effective in 2006.

Horsemen Told of Rights to Influence Signal Fees

If horsemen believe they aren't receiving adequate compensation for their product, it's within their rights to be directly involved in the setting of host fees, a consultant said July 22 during the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association summer convention in Toronto, Ontario.

National HBPA Moves on Major Reorganization

The National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association could be reorganized July 24 should its board of directors approve a recommendation that the organization create the positions of a paid chief executive officer and a president/chairman who would receive an honorarium.

Roark Seeks Third Term as National HBPA President

John Roark, first elected as president of the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association in the summer of 2001, said he would seek his third two-year term as head of the organization.

Former Charles Town HBPA President Fires Back

The former president of the Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association is calling for a special election in the wake of what he calls repeated attempts by the current president and board of directors to discredit him and his wife.

Case Against Former Charles Town HBPA President Ends

The Charles Town Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association said legal proceedings against its former president, Dick Watson, have concluded.