MASSACHUSETTS THROUGHBRED BREEDERS ASSOCIATION

Minutes

 

June 20, 2007

Shipyard Restaurant

Brighton, Massachusetts

President George Brown called the meeting to order at  __7:10 PM_________.

 

 Board Members Present

Absent

Guests

Brown, George - Chair

Dullea, Shirley

Brown, Arlene –Recording Secretary

Robbins, Harland-Treasurer

Benson, Michael

McDonnell, Ed

Dirico, Joe

 

Stone, Ed

Janjigian, Armand

 

Stone, Lois

Joyce, Daniel

 

Joyce, Beverly

Loebelenz, Lee

 

 

Rose, Gregg

 

 

Salim, Adel

 

 

Spadea, Anthony

 

 

Szymt, Gus

 

 

 

1.) Secretary’s Report:

Minutes from May 16, 2007 reviewed by board

Motion to accept minutes:  Lee Loebelenz  Second: Anthony Spadea  Motion: Carries                               

 

2.) Treasurer's Report

  Mr. Harland Robbins reviewed the profit and loss statement and the detail on the administrative,  awards, and money market accounts for the MTBA for January through May 2007. He explained that our income was down a little from last year at this time but so were the awards being paid out so we are actually in good shape.

 

He also discussed the status of our IRS dispute and distributed a letter from them absolving us from $6,293.71 of our penalty.  There is ongoing correspondence regarding the remaining charges and Mr. Robbins is not as optimistic about a favorable outcome on those.

Motion to accept report: Anthony Spadea   Second:  Armand Janjigian Motion:   Carries         

 

3.) Chairman’s notes and comments

a)Mr. George Brown reviewed a proposal from the Beacon Hill Institute (out of Suffolk University) to conduct a study to determine the impact of the breeding industry on the state’s economy.  The study will examine the economic and tax impact of the industry, including the operations at the state racetracks, on employment, personal income, state and local tax revenues and state gross domestic product.  The cost of this study will be $5,000, of which $2,500 must be paid up front and the remainder at the completion of the project.  The completion date will be one month from the signing of the contract.

 

Mr. Ed Stone mentioned a study called the Rappaport study already done by Harvard University on the impact of gaming.  He said it was very favorable toward the horses and tracks.  It will be something to consider but doesn’t meet the needs we propose to address with the Beacon Hill Study.

Motion to proceed with study: Lee Loebelenz Second: Gus Szymt Motion:   Carries  

 

b) Mr. Brown discussed the meeting with Mr. Fields held in his office on June 4. Many of the board members were in attendance.  The meeting was very positive and most of the members left feeling that Mr. Fields was sincere about improving the racing at Suffolk Downs and making a commitment to remain there at least 5 years.

 

c) Mr. Spadea spoke about a meeting of the legislative committee of the HBPA of which he is a member. Mr. Brown was invited and was in attendance at that meeting on June 12. Mr. Brown explained his position on contributions to the purses for restricted state bred races that had been discussed with Mr. Fields and misinterpreted by some people who had reported back to the HBPA.  He also discussed his willingness to work with the HBPA on all issues as long as he felt they were not at odds with the MTBA position.  He explained the reasons that he supported putting 150 days of racing in the bill if slots are approved ( 1. to encourage the breeding of horses in Massachusetts and 2. that these things had to be put into the bill to have any legal challenge with the race tracks if they are not adhered to).  The HBPA committee appeared favorable to his suggestions.

 

d) Mr. Brown asked the members to speak to their senators and representatives to encourage them to be open minded about gaming.  Senator Timilty from his district will be visiting his farm on Friday June 22.

 

4.) A letter of resignation from Shirley Dullea was read to the board by Harland Robbins.  The board requested that Harland Robbins speak to her to see if he could change her mind.

 

5) Old Business

a) At the meeting in April the board voted to set up a committee to visit thoroughbred farms in Massachusetts.  Mr. Adel Salim will propose a form with questions and observations which we can use when visiting so that reports will be consistent.  Mr. Harland Robbins will begin visiting farms now.  The board voted to compensate the committee members for their travel and meal expenditures.

Committee volunteers: Adel Salim, Lee Loebelenz, Harland Robbins, George Brown

 

Motion Anthony Spadea    Second:  Lee Loebelenz  Motion:   Carries 

 

b)Mr. George Brown will contact members of the By-laws committee on a date to meet  to review the suggestions.

 

6) New Business:

a.)    Several suggestions were made to advertise the MTBA program.  Mr. Spadea mentioned that it is the best program in the nation and probably the least well known.  Arlene Brown will add award notices to the web page of results.

b.)     An award for a mass bred owner of the month will be started with a $25.00 gift certificate to the Terrace Room.

Motion Anthony Spadea    Second:  Gregg Rose  Motion:   Carries 

c.)    We were offered a page in the racing program which we will use to report results of mass breds, remind mass bred owners of deadlines for filing foal reports etc, and congratulate the mass bred  owner of the month.  Possibly we could do the same in the condition book.  

d.)    Future meetings will be on every 3rd Thursday of the month to avoid conflicts with racing days.

Motion Lee Loebelenz    Second:  Anthony Spadea    Motion:   Carries 

 

Next Meeting:  6:30 July 19, 2007 at Vinny T’s in Dedham.

 

7). Adjournment:      9:45PM

 

Motion from:            Anthony Spadea       Second: Armand Janjigian      Motion  Carries

 

Respectfully Submitted   

 

 

Arlene Brown