MINUTES OF THE CTBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
SEPTEMBER 22, 2000
HARRIS RANCH, COALINGA, CA

I. DIRECTORS PRESENT:

Barr, John
Boots, Clydene
Canty, Jeanne
Card, Keith
Fitzpatrick, Weston
Harralson, Daniel
Harris, John
Howard, Leigh Ann
McCaffery, Trudy
Meagher, Dr. Dennis
Pashayan, Suzanne
Rogers, Joan
Vessels, Frank

DIRECTORS ABSENT:

Johnson, Myron
Liebau, Jack

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE:

Burge, Douglas, CTBA General Manager
Murphy, James, CTBA Chief Financial Officer
Groothedde, Rudi, Managing Editor, California Thoroughbred 

II. The meeting was brought to order at 9:10 a.m.

III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

The August minutes were approved as corrected.

IV. PRESIDENT'S REPORT:

A. Leigh Ann Howard was acknowledged as "committee chairperson of the month" for her persistence and tireless efforts not only in arranging for speakers for the Harris Farms seminar but also for persuading Frank Stronach to address the group as the dinner speaker.
B. The California TB Industry Forum was acknowledged as a good communications vehicle. It was discussed and agreed that anyone posting personal attacks or other inappropriate matter would be removed from the forum.
C. Motion (by Weston Fitzpatrick, seconded by Keith Card): Remove from the forum anyone who violates posting rules. Passed.
D. Directors up for election in the upcoming election are: Weston Fitzpatrick, Dan Harralson, Jack Leibau, Dennis Meagher, Trudy McCaffery, and Suzanne Pashayan. Action Item: Doug Burge shall send copies of the by-laws to board members for review of procedures and rules pertaining to candidacy and elections. 
E. President Fitzpatrick appointed Scoop Vessels chairperson of the Sales Committee. Committee members will be: Weston Fitzpatrick, Clydene Boots, John Harris, Myron Johnson, Trudy McCaffery, Dennis Meagher, and Jeanne Canty, in addition to Doug Burge and Cookie Hackworth.

V. GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT:

A. Incentive Awards: Adjustments were made to the computer system, and the mid-year checks will be mailed shortly. 
B. Annual Meeting: A Northern California site was discussed as a good choice for the 2001 meeting. It was thought that the meeting should include continuing education, passes for members to attend that day's racing, and other incentives to attend Motion (by Keith Card, seconded by Jeanne Canty): The general manager shall explore using Bay Meadows as a site for the annual meeting. Passed.
C. Edwin Gregson seat: Weston Fitzpatrick and Trudy McCaffery will have lunch with Gail Gregson to determine her level of interest in filling her late husband's seat. Motion (by Dan Harralson, seconded by Scoop Vessels):
Wes and Trudy shall have the latitude to invite Gail onto the board following the interview, in their discretion. Passed
D. Cal Poly Study: The draft of this study concluded that incentive awards had a favorable effect on the quality of racing, the amount of handle, the number of starters, yearling prices, mare quality, and stallion revenues. The associated survey determined that eliminating the program would cause breeders to reduce their breeding stock. The study will be summarized in the magazine. The Board will review the report.
E. Del Mar Historical Sales Statistics: The Board considered these to be worthwhile material for evaluation by the Sales Committee.
F. Del Mar 2001: The rental agreement with the 22nd Agricultural District has been signed. 
G. Del Mar 2000: Accounts receivable are in good shape. While a few buyers have been slow to pay, there are no perceived problems CFO James Murphy was commended for his management of credit issues at the sale.


VI. TREASURER'S REPORT

A. CFO James Murphy gave the treasurer's report in the absence of Treasurer Myron Johnson, who is traveling. 
B. Contract computer services: The firm installing the new computer system appears to be competent and is adhering to budget.
C. Auditors: Price/Waterhouse/Coopers/Lybrand is very helpful with IRS issues and with proper administration of the state incentive funds.
D. Investments: There is ongoing review of the incentive fund investment portfolio. The amount invested varies throughout the year, so the returns, while steady at about 5%, fluctuate in total amount.

VII. RACING COMMITTEE REPORT (Keith Card)

A. Cal Cup preliminary nominations are up 12% compared to last year.
B. The Committee will request that the racing secretaries change the Cal-bred maiden claiming $32,000 to maiden claiming $40,000 for two and three year old races. The races for three year olds and up could remain at $32,000. This change will allow more protection for California-bred owners.
C. There will be an attempt to have a Cal Bred stakes run on the 2001 Annual Meeting day.
D. The annual meeting with the various racing secretaries and the TOC is scheduled for October 27, 2000. At this meeting, the group will fine tune the 2001 Restricted Stakes schedule and discuss other racing issues.

VIII. WEBSITE COMMITTEE REPORT (Joan Rogers)

A. The CTIF has lots of readers but not many active participants. Work is being done to simplify the log-in procedure. A warning will be posted for the purpose of discouraging improper use of the forum.

IX. MAGAZINE COMMITTEE REPORT (Trudy McCaffery)

A. The farm supplement was published this year as a separate directory, and Rudi Groothedde was commended for his work in producing it. It is hoped that this new format will appeal to more farms and thus increase advertising revenues.
B. Three ad pages are required to fund every 8 editorial pages.

X. EDUCATION COMMITTEE REPORT (Leigh Ann Howard)

A. About 135 attendees are expected for the Harris Farms seminar.
B. The Northern California stallion tour is taking place on Saturday, October 21.
C. On October 29, the night before the Barretts Mixed Sale, the CTBA is making an internet presentation, including presentations on the Jockey Club software, the use of the CTBA website and CTIF (the forum), and if time permits a quick review of internet TB sites. 

XI. LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE REPORT (John Harris)

A. Gov. Davis has until September 30 to sign, veto, or permit to pass into law through inaction A.B. 2760. 

XII. CAL CUP COMMITTEE REPORT (John Barr)

A. 120 tables have been sold, compared to 130 at this time in 1999.
B. Tim Smith will not be able to attend a Q&A prior to Cal Cup as hoped.
C. The food will be like last year's, including the popular shrimp and adding a dim sum menu.
D. The Fantasy Challenge prize is a donated portrait of Best Pal. The giveaway is a clock. There will be a raffle for a John Deere "Gator."
E. Everyone was urged to review the Oak Tree website (www.santaanita.com) on Oak Tree 2000 and give comments to John Barr.


XIII. ADDITIONAL BUSINESS

A. Trudy McCaffery reported that two of the Kids to the Cup members would be attending the Harris Farms seminar.
B. Suzanne Pashayan stressed the need for a bathroom renovation at the CTBA offices, and urged the preparation of a plan and budget. Suzanne Pashayan observed that she had brought up this topic last year, and that nothing has been done to the bathrooms in approximately 20 years. There was general agreement that such a renovation was necessary.

XIV. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:35 pm.

MOTIONS:

1. Remove from the forum anyone who violates posting propriety. Passed.
2. Explore the use of Bay Meadows as a site for the 2001 meeting. Passed.
3. Discretion to invite Gail Gregson to fill her late husband's board seat. Passed.

ACTION ITEMS:

1. Doug Burge to send copies of bylaws pertaining to elections to all directors for review.

Suzanne Pashayan and Joan Rogers, Co-Secretaries

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