The Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association announced June 16 that executive secretary John "Jeb" Hannum will leave his position with the PHBA in September.
Hannum, who has served in the position for three years, informed the board that his family is moving to the Washington, D.C. area later this summer. The PHBA is seeking a successor and Hannum said he will work with the board on the transition.
"It has been a great pleasure to work with the PHBA board over the last three years. I have loved every minute of the job," Hannum said in a statement. "The Pennsylvania breeding program is one of the best in the country and it has been very rewarding to oversee and promote the program. We have worked hard to make the case that a vibrant racing program contributes to the state's agricultural economy and continued efforts to promote the program will be important."
According to a release, during his tenure Hannum, with the support of the PHBA board, increased the marketing of the Pennsylvania breeding program to attract new breeders to the state and address competition from New York and Maryland. Hannum and the PHBA have worked to ensure the success of the breeding program with the state's two Thoroughbred horsemen's organizations-the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, which represents horsemen at Parx Racing in Bensalem, and the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, which represents horsemen at both Penn National Race Course in Grantville and Presque Isle Downs in Erie.
The Board has formed a search committee and will be interviewing candidates over the summer, with a goal of having a new executive secretary by early September. Information concerning the position can be found on the PHBA website.
