Cloverleaf Standardbred Owner s Association, Inc. August 4, 2015 VFW Grasonville, MD Present: President: Thomas Cooke 1 st VP: William Long Treasurer: Daniel Bittle Jr. Page 1 Executive VP: Executive Benefits Coordinator: Sharon L. Roberts Georgina Maybee Directors: William DeLodovico Jackie MacLeod Dan Myer Kenneth Schlotzhauer Eli Solomon Gary White Absent: Gary Ewing Jerry Nock William Spicer President Thomas Cooke called the meeting to order at 6:10 pm Approval of June 1, 2015 Minutes: Motion 1: A motion was made by D. Myer, seconded by W. DeLodovico to approve the June 1, 2015 minutes. The vote was unanimous. The motion carried. President Cooke updated the Board and members on horsemen in need of our thoughts and prayers: Georgie Boy was taken to Christian Hospital send flowers on behalf of MSBA and CSOA. Charlotte Hahn - Bad Fall she had hip replacement and is in rehab. Sharon Roberts led the group in prayer. CSOA Board Briefing Book: Thomas Cooke distributed CSOA Board Briefing Book August 4, 2015 2. Out Ridder: Tom Cooke and Sharon Roberts met with Joe Cavilla from Ocean Downs about the need for an Out Ridder. A Petition was distributed and signatures were gathered to present to the MRC. Sharon Roberts addressed the MRC about an Out Ridder but no action was taken. 3. Breathalyzer Testing: Only Drivers are tested not everyone taking a horse on the track is tested. 4. Breathalyzer Testing at Ocean Downs: The Paddock Judge will be testing all the drivers before they race. 5. USTA Rule Change Proposal: Rule changes The USTA is looking for any rule changes to be submitted by September 1, 2015.
6. New USTA Permanent Membership Cards: The USTA will be issuing permanent membership cards since these cards do not have expiration dates listed, be sure to hold onto them indefinitely. 7. USTA Summit: On July 13, 2015 the USTA held a Summit with a cross section of selected people. Mark Lowe represented Penn National. He was quoted in the Horsemen and Fair World magazine. Page 2 8. MRC Task Force: This is a small group organized by the MRC. There are more Thoroughbred people on Task Force than Standardbred people. With the premise that everything is on the table the following is a list of points that could be discussed: Observations: Review payment for participation in a race Review preferences and how they are weighted. Review the Bonus Program. Review race days v, race purses. Review the 60 day rule. Encourage Ocean Downs to provide a live feed of the races. Review The MSRF (sire/bred fund) Stallion nominations Yearling nominations Starting fees 4 & 5 year old program Maryland Standardbred Fund Races Out of competition money is being attacked. CSOA established working definitions are being attacked. Bonus and out-of-competition money under is being questioned. The value of the MSRF has been questioned. D. Myer stated, They (the committee) haven t agreed to anything. The Standardbred Task Force is made up of the following individuals: MRC Commissioner Quade, MRC Commissioner Bowman, MRC Commissioner Hayden, MRC Commissioner Winebrener, MRC Commissioner Lafferty, John Mooney (OD), Tom Cooke (CSOA), Chris McErlean (PGRV), Dan Myer (MSBA) and C. Stanbaugh (MRF) was invited for MRF information. Sharon Roberts was specifically told that she could not participate along with Tom Cooke. As an aside, Tom Cooke suggested that the Horse Industry Board trickle down poster should be updated for CSOA use in Annapolis.
9. MSRF Advisory Board Update: Gary White approved by the MRC as CSOA s representative on the MSRF Advisory Board. 10. MSBA Update: Page 3 2 year old SS races at RCR. Sept 26 Elim. RCR qualifier will be held on Sept 12 Qualifier with PG County Fair and again on Sept 15. 11. Qualifying Standard (Time) for MSRF and MSS Scott Woogen Credit for the allowance for SS? Credit is not given for an off-track. The MSS and MSRF do not go by the over-night standards. 11. Increase purses August 13 th at Ocean Downs 2 & 3 year olds increase. Series Tom Swann C3 horses Trotters and Pacers 2 elimations 5,000 Final 8000 Consolation 6000 B Series Races rejected 12. 2015 Fairs: Gina Maybe updated the Board on the fairs that CSOA supports. Currently we give $2000 each to The Great Frederick Fair and the Great Pocomoke Fair. The Prince George s County Fair will be held at Rosecroft this year and they are planning on hosting about 6 Standardbred races on Saturday September 12 th. They are currently looking for sponsors for the races. Saturday, September 12 th, RCR will host Qualifiers in the morning and Charted Fair races that start at noon. Bounce Back Program T Shirts and Stick Horses for children Motion 2: A motion was made by Eli Solomon, seconded by Dan Bittle to give Prince George s County Fair $2,000 to sponsor the Standardbred races. The vote was unanimous. The motion carried. The Great Frederick Fair will be held starting on September 18 th. Rosecroft starts their Fall Racing meet on Saturday, Sept 19 th.
Gina Maybee updated the Board on the Standardbred Horse Show. CSOA has budgeted $850 for the event. New Event: The Horse Festival Sponsorship costs $750. Motion 3: A motion was made by William DeLodovico, seconded by Bill Long to approve $750 for the costs of the Horse Festival Sponsorship. The vote was unanimous. The motion carried. Page 4 Prince Georges Fair Update: Pete Hanley is working on the condition sheet for the fair races. Money raised for Prince Georges County Fair Purses: Rosecroft $2,500 MSBA $2,000 Ocean Downs Has not gotten back to us Chicks Saddlery $250 DiNenna Lee CPA s $250 Cloverleaf SOA $2,000 Gina sent out Sponsorship letter to local business and associates. The Meeting Recessed at 7:05 pm The Meeting Resumed at 7:30 pm Stability and Vision OD and PGRV Contracts both include a walk away provision for the respective race tracks. There will be racing at Rosecroft through 2015. Arbitration Hearing: October 19 - October 23, 2015. CSOA was unsuccessful in obtaining the $1.2M for PGRV to help offset the live racing expenses. There needs to be equal treatment for both tracks. Race Dates for 2016 will be submitted in the fall.
Kelley Rogers Update: We are going to have a race meet at RCR next year 40 days from January to June 2016 and not return for a fall meet. We have a pending mess! It will likely take until April 2016 for a decision on the Arbitration. PN has filled a new series of document requests. PN is not looking for a deal. We have a very strong case for free or unlimited simulcasting. It would add value to the track. It s important today as it has ever been to have more reasonable conditions. MJC wants to throw everything out. PN offered to extend the deal 5 years and MJC said NO. We need to be realistic. Page 5 Good news, there will be racing this year and some kind of meet next year. Kelley Rogers trying to find a buyer to keep racing going at RCR. Couple of Investors have shown interest to develop the property. Horsemen need to be looking to upgrade horses, if you have to go to other tracks to race. Other issues are arising. Concerns for CSOA 90 % of operations income comes in from the racetracks. PGRV contributes 70% to CSOA s. We are trying to keep those agreements in place for 2016. We need to be cautious as to the horses we have if they can t race at other tracks. Horsemen need to consider their options outside of Maryland. One concern that was expressed was that the moment harness racing ceases at RCR the thoroughbreds will get it as an OTB and likely attempt to locate it at National Harbor. Annapolis Representation To be successful in Annapolis, we need to get the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate involved to help with legislation. We need legislative representation help for PN. We have further needs with Lobbyists. Privileges and preferences for horsemen and horses. There will be tons of leg work and time. The committee is going to be a fist fight. Maybe we can get a Governors Bill to help PN. Ocean Downs has Intercompany transferees ($820,000) on their accounting sheets. Bruce Bereano: CSOA needs professional help in Annapolis. In the last legislative session, we got the arbitration language and the 2% money with the help of Bruce Bereano. Gerry Evans is retained through 2015. Bruce Bereano has been paid $2,500 a month through April 2015 Legislative Session. WE are trying to attract another party to buy RCR but without a long term plan and money to help offset the live racing expenses it s going to be difficult. We will have to fight for our 20% of the Slot Purse Money. We need an escape clause (to protect CSOA s interests) included in any agreement with Bruce Bereano and Gerry Evans.
Motion 4: A motion was made by William DeLodovico, seconded by Dan Myer to engage Bruce Bereano from July 2015 through May of 2016 with an exit clause, at $2,500 a month for a total cost of $27,500. The vote unanimous. The motion carried. Motion 5: A motion was made by Eli Solomon, seconded by William DeLodovico to engage Gerry Evans from September 2015 through May 2016. The cost is $2,500 a month, with an exit clause for a total of $22,500. The vote was unanimous. The motion carried. Page 6 It will be the Board s option to terminate either of the two agreements. Request from Gina Maybee for Equiery Cover: Motion 5: A motion was made by Eli Solomon, seconded by Dan Myers to cover the costs of the Cover page of the Equiery for $500. The vote was unanimous. The vote carried. CSOA Board Meeting Dates: Page 31 (Board Briefing Book) typo on change of dates September 24, October 29 and December 10, 2015. CSOA & MSBA Banquet Costs: Sharon Roberts updated the Board on the costs for the February 20, 2015 Banquet. Final cost was $1,939.86 divided between CSOA and MSBA equally. MSBA will reimburse CSOA for the expenses and pictures. A copy of the breakdown will be attached to the permanent minutes. New Business: Debbie Gazzerro has concerns about the security employees at OD s detention barns. They are making things difficult for the horsemen. Some horsemen have horses racing in back to back races. They will not let one person care for two horses in the detention barn. The horsemen don t have enough help to have one person per horse. Jason Burton was fined. John Gazzerro requested a stipend for drivers that finish out of competition. Pay all drivers $10. A motion was made by Dan Myers to pay drivers $10 that finish 6 th through 9 th place and the drivers are to pay the on track drivers insurance at OD. There was No second on the motion. Horse Industry Board Meeting August Meeting at Ocean Downs on August 13 th. There will be a Secretary s Citation given to a horsemen and a horse at OD. Everyone is invited. Motion to adjourn: A motion was made by Gary White, seconded by Kenneth Schlotzhauer to adjourn the meeting. The vote was unanimous. The meeting adjourned at 8:40 pm. Respectfully submitted by, Sharon L. Roberts Executive VP