New regional directors are Dr. Thomas Grimstad (Louisiana), with Bill Eliott of Arkansas the alternate; and Manuel Pacheco of Mexico, with Rudolph Muir of Jamaica the alternate.
Edited press releaseTimothy "Ted" Connors, chairman of the New Hampshire Pari-Mutuel Commission, is the new chairman of the Association of Racing Commissioners International.Connors took over for New Jersey Racing Commission executive director Frank Zanzuccki, whose one-year term expired during the RCI convention in Lexington the week of April 18. Connors is the longest-serving regulator in the country, having first been appointed to the New Hampshire panel in 1968.The chairman-elect is Bernard Daney, chairman of the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission. He previously served as secretary/treasurer of RCI. Joe Gorajec, executive director of the Indiana Horse Racing Commission, will now fill that position.Five new at-large members were elected to the RCI board. They are Bob Ford, a member of the Arizona Racing Commission; Mike Hopkins, executive director of the Maryland Racing Commission; Anne Poulson, who chairs the Virginia Racing Commission; Stephen Walters, chairman of the Oregon Racing Commission; and Michigan racing commissioner Christine White.Connors appointed to the board of directors Warren Leary Jr., a member of the New Hampshire commission; Bryan Mitchell, a member of the West Virginia Racing Commission; and Roy Wilt, chairman of the Pennsylvania State Harness Racing Commission.