Calbred News

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE CTBA BOARD MEETING

JUNE 20, 2001
This list of highlights from the CTBA board meeting is published to give members a brief look at the topics and issues discussed. These are not the official minutes of the Board meeting. Information here has not necessarily been voted upon, and does not constitute a formal statement of direction or opinion.

1. President's Report (Wes Fitzpatrick): Our attorney has approved an amendment to the CTBA by-laws to require anyone petitioning for election to the board to have been a member in good standing for 12 consecutive months as of the nomination petition due date.

The CTBA sent a letter to Magna Corp. in support of the concept of a "Sunshine Cup," featuring contents between Cal breds and Florida breds. We are having ongoing conversations with the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders and Owners Association.

2. General Manager's Report (Doug Burge): TOBA state breeder of the year awards will be given this year at Adena Springs in Kentucky. Clydene Boots, the breeder of Richter Scale and other horses for a total of 85 starts, 17 first, 8 seconds, 13 thirds, and $708,700, was selected to receive the California award.

The Eddie Gregson Award, given to the buyer, consigner, and agent for the most successful Del Mar graduate of two years prior, was selected, and will be announced at the party preceding the Del Mar Sale.

Incentive award revenues are down 2% through the end of May, compared to 2000.

3. Treasurer's Report (John Barr): The CTBA is operating within budget. The Audit Committee met with Price Waterhouse auditors and received a very positive report. Jim Murphy and his staff were commended for this result.

Recommendations were made for allocating the $10,000 (from the operating budget) slated for racing-related donations. Recipients are UC Davis ($1,000), the American Horse Council ($1,000), Kids to the Cup ($2,000), and TOBA ($1,000). The activities of each recipient organization will be evaluated over the course of the year. The remaining funds will be held in reserve for other opportunities. The CTBA sales company also budgets $10,000 to send to the NTRA, now joined with the Breeders Cup. This involvement makes members eligible for Equisource discounts on certain John Deere products, Sherwin-Williams paints, and other, similar products. We are planning to explain the program in detail to attendees of the September seminar at Harris Farms.

4. Sales Report (Doug Burge for Scoop Vessels): The Del Mar catalog is due off the presses on July 6, 40 days in advance of the sale. We have printed 9,000 catalogs. The catalog mailing list will be updated prior to mailing, as is done annually.

There will be no satellite broadcast of the sale this year. Responding to a request from several consigners, we will offer an entirely voluntary "parade of yearlings" at the cocktail party prior to the sale.

5. Racing Committee (John Barr): The committee is working with the tracks to recommend racing calendar adjustments to encourage larger fields. There will be eight Cal Bred stakes in July. Five horses participated in the colt/gelding division of the California Sire Stakes.

In a recap of Gold Rush Days, the committee focused primarily on how to improve efficiency of seating. It took 20-30 minutes this year for many people to be seated. The procedure will be changed next year, and arrangements made to give CTBA members their own buffet and seating area. Attendance was good-the Turf Club was sold out, reserved seating was largely filled, but more work needs to be done to fill the grandstand.

The handle on Gold Rush Day was an impressive $17 million. Del Mar is working to arrange a match race between Caller One and Kona Gold for the first week of the meet.

6. Legislative Committee (John Harris): The bill to eliminate sales tax on breeding stock has become a two-year bill. The bill received positive comments from reviewers, but this year's state budget problems have tabled it. Account wagering and the labor bill are still two distinct bills at present. The possibility of combining account wagering with a backstretch labor relations bill is being pursued. The main point of contention is the union's reluctance to allow for elections as opposed to only having cards signed to signify union support. Efforts are being made to set up a meeting with the Governor to review his thoughts on the bill and see if the industry can encourage his support of account wagering as an effort to help the overall horse industry.

7. Internet Committee (Joan Rogers): The new website design has been implemented and tested, and should appear on the public website in early July.

8. Education Committee (Leigh Ann Howard): We have just received confirmation that Penny Chenery, the daughter of the breeder of Secretariat and so closely associated with this great horse during his racing career, will be the Friday night dinner speaker at the Harris Farms seminar, September 21-22.

We will put on a seminar the night before the American Equine Sales yearling sale at Pleasanton in late August. The subject is sales prep and the showing of yearlings. The featured presenters will be Duane Griffith, general manager at Applebite Farms, who will talk on "Grooming, Conditioning, and Training" for sales, and Leigh Ann Howard, who will discuss "Showing Your Yearling to the Buyer at the Sale," with demonstrations.

9. CTBA Foundation (Jeanne Canty): The Foundation has provided several of Seabiscuit's trophies to Saratoga for their Seabiscuit show. The Foundation has also contributed $5,000 to fund the Lou Rowan Scholarship at U.C. Davis.

10. There will be no board meeting in July. The next meeting will be held August 15 at Del Mar.