MASSACHUSETTS THROUGHBRED BREEDERS ASSOCIATION

Minutes

 

April 17, 2008

Vinny T’s Dedham, MA

Chairman George Brown called the meeting to order at    7:20        PM.

 

 Board Members Present

Absent

Guests

Brown, George - Chair

Catapano, Frank

Brown, Arlene –Recording Secretary

Benson, Michael

Spadea, Anthony/Treasurer

Bill Robbins - Accountant

Dirico, Joe

 

Bill O’Donnell

Ferguson, Meg

 

 

Janjigian, Armand

 

 

Joyce, Daniel

 

 

Loebelenz, Lee

 

 

Reagan, Kathy - Alternate

 

 

Rose, Gregg

 

 

Salim, Adel

 

 

Stone, Ed

 

 

 

1.) Secretary’s Report:

Minutes from March 20, 2008 reviewed by board

Motion to accept:   Lee Loebelenz                              2nd:   Mike Benson

Motion passes unanimously

 

2.) Treasurer's Report

      Bill Robbins reported that revenues are down about 15% from this time last year but he is still hopeful

      that we will have about $400,000 to run stakes races this year.

Motion to accept:     Joe DiRico                                   2nd:   Meg Ferguson

Motion passes

 

3.) Chairman’s notes and comments

       George Brown introduces Senator Michael Morrissey and lobbyist Andy Hunt.  Senator Morrissey

       discussed the status of gaming in Massachusetts.  He feels that a compromise bill of slots at the horse

       tracks and 1 casino may be in the planning stages but not likely to occur until some time after

       November elections.

 

4.)  Old Business

a)      TOBA Nominations

Lee Loebelenz and Mike Benson were nominated for breeder of the year awards.  A vote was taken and the vote was a tie.  The board agreed to settle the issue with a coin toss.  Lee Loebelenz won the toss and was elected breeder of the year.

 

b)      George Brown read a letter from Anthony Spadea, who was not able to be in attendance, expressing his feelings about the stakes races. 


 

c)      Stakes races

·         Dan Joyce talked about a plan to approach Mr. Fields and ask him to support a MA stallion stake race on Masscap day and to fund some or all of it.   A motion was made to authorize Dan Joyce to look into this.

 

 

Motion:   Lee Loebelenz                                        2nd:   Adel Salim

Motion passes unanimously

 

·         Dan Joyce suggests that all stakes races be backed up and not start until the 1st of July to allow MA horses time to get ready.  Some concern was expressed about having enough time to fit in all the stakes races if indeed we come up with the money to run all 12 of them.  Some dissatisfaction was also expressed by members who paid a considerable amount of money to send their horse to training farms to have them ready and now have to wait to run them.  

Motion:   Dan Joyce                                        2nd:   Lee Loebelenz

Yea  7    Nay  3   Motion passes

George Brown will contact the racing secretary to make this arrangement.

 

·         Mike Benson makes a motion that 12 races of $35,000 each be run in lieu of the $50,000 black type stakes races.  George Brown expresses concern with this plan since the MTBA has been working to improve its image and dropping all black type races he feels is a step backwards.

Motion:   Mike Benson                                        2nd:   Joe DiRico

Yea    3             Nay 6        Abstain   Lee Loebelenz    Motion does not pass

 

·        Ed Stone reports that he has sent a letter to Mr. Hogan of Hogan Tire asking him to sponsor 1 or 2 stakes races.  He will continue to pursue this possibility.  Also we have hopes that Harland will be able to obtain a grant from the Amelia Peabody foundation for 1 or 2 more races.

 

6.)  Next Meeting:      May 22, 2008 at Vinny T’s - Dedham

 

7). Adjournment:   9:00   PM 

Motion:    Lee Loebelenz                                            2nd:     Meg Ferguson

 

 

Respectfully submitted

 

Arlene Brown