New York Sire Stakes Harness Racing

Board of Trustees Meeting

AGENDA

Agriculture and NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund

Board of Trustees Meeting

3:00 PM

NYS Racing & Wagering Board, Schenectady, NY

MARCH 21, 2011

1.        Public Comment

2.       Approve the minutes of the Board meeting held on October 21, 2010

3.       Approve Current Financial Update Including Investments

4.       Grants - Hemlock Fair Heritage Museum

5.       Public Authority Accountability Committees

6.       Breeding Fund Budget 

7.       Executive Session

8.       Trustees Discussion – Other Business

  

MINUTES

Agriculture and NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund

Board of Trustees Meeting

 NYS Racing & Wagering Board

Schenectady, N.Y

October 21, 2010

Present:  NYSR&WB Chairman John Sabini, NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets Assistant Commissioner Jackie Moody-Czub on behalf of Commissioner Patrick Hooker, Trustee Keith Hamilton, Trustee Joe Angiolillo, Breeding Fund (Fund) Executive Director Peter Goold,  Audience included: Harness Horse Breeders Treasurer Betty Holt and President David Hanson,  NYSR&WB Executive Assistant Kristen Buckley, member Charles Diamond, Executive Director Ron Ochrym, Attorneys Robert Feuerstein and Mark Stuart.

The meeting was called to order at 2:11 PM.  

Agenda Item # 1. Public Comment - Chairman Sabini called for Public Comment. No one presented public comment.

Agenda Item # 2.  Minutes of Last Meeting - Motion by Trustee Hamilton, seconded by Jackie Czub to approve the minutes of the July 15, 2010 meeting as presented.   All in favor.

Agenda Item #3.  Trustee Hamilton offered a motion to approve County Fair Rule #35 for 2011. “Resolved that only NYS county fairs conducting harness racing under rules prescribed by the Fund will be allowed to participate in the repair funding program.” Seconded by Trustee Angiolillo. All in favor.

Agenda Item # 4.  Director Goold summarized the Fund year to date financial statement  and noted that, per the Fund’s Investment Guidelines, all spare cash continues to be invested in the Short Term Investment Pool (STIP) administered by the Office of the State Comptroller. Motion by Ms. Czub, seconded by Trustee Hamilton to approve the financial statement as submitted. All in favor

Agenda Item # 5.   2011 Race Schedule Principles. Executive Director Goold briefly explained  planning efforts for the 2011 New York Sire Stakes Race Schedule. Harness Horse Breeders of New York State (HHB) is under contract to plan and draft the race schedule. The process starts with Fund staff calculating purse revenue expected to be available by June 30, 2011 for all seven New York State pari-mutuel tracks. Once this is complete, the HHB scheduling committee begins drafting the 2011 Race Schedule. The proposed schedule is coordinated with each of the seven tracks involved. The final planning information becomes available at the annual meeting of the American Harness Racing Secretaries meeting during the first week of December. At this meeting, tracks from around the nation announce their plans for Grand Circuit and other national stakes races. Once these races are factored in and all NYS tracks agree with the schedule, the schedule is published through fund outlets and the United States Trotting Association (USTA).   Chairman Sabini noted that Saratoga Harness Track has requested to host the 2011 Night of Champions, therefore it is planned that this will be worked out with the cooperation of Yonkers Raceway who has often hosted this event in the past.

Agenda Item # 6. Approve Grant Requests- Motion by Trustee Angiolillo, seconded by Trustee Hamilton to approve both grants. All in favor.  

a.       4-H Program 2011 Budget Request- approval was requested for the attached application dated October 8, 2010, from the New York State 4-H Foundation, Inc. The request in the amount of $66,663 is to support the statewide 4-H Youth Development Horse Program. Approval is requested  based on the written request, the attached proposed budget and Section 332 (1)(b). of the New York Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law.  Ms. Czub asked whether anything has changed in the program. Director Goold explained that during 2010 4-H had been unable to pull together the Standardbred Summer Driving and Equine Management School. Director Goold explained that in past years this project had been done by Mr. Bill Maddison of Morrisville College but Mr. Maddison has since left Morrisville and 4-H has been unsuccessful in finding someone to fill his shoes. Mr. Goold promised to redouble the effort to find a qualified person to lead this project. 

b.        Harness Racing Museum Education Request – approval was requested by  The Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y. for a 2011 grant  in the amount of $35,000 to support the youth activities and equine education program of the museum. Approval is based on the attached application and budget and Section 332 (1)(i) of the New York Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law.

Agenda Item # 7. Industry Related Industry Contract. Chairman Sabini noted the long-standing symbiotic relationship between the Breeding Fund and Harness Horse Breeders of New York State (HHB). The Chairman asked HHB President David Hanson for comments. Mr. Hanson noted that he has had an excellent working relationship with Fund Director Goold and Fund Trustees and looked forward to another productive contract. Motion by Ms. Czub, seconded by Trustee Hamilton to approve the attached $140,000 flate rate contract with Harness Horse Breeders for 2011.  All in favor.

Meeting adjourned at 2:53 PM

Respectfully Submitted,

Peter Goold, Executive Director

Minutes were approved by the Trustees on 3/21/11

 

MINUTES

Agriculture and NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund

Board of Trustees Meeting

 NYS Racing & Wagering Board

Schenectady, N.Y

JULY 15, 2010

Present:  Breeding Fund Chairman John Sabini, NYS Agriculture and Markets Deputy Commissioner Jackie Moody Czub (on behalf of Trustee Hooker), Trustee Keith Hamilton,  Trustee Joe Angiolillo, Breeding Fund Executive Director Peter Goold, New York State Racing &Wagering Board Attorney Robert Feuerstein, NYSR&WB Executive Director Ron Ochrym and Executive Secretary Kristen Buckley.  Audience included:  Harness Horse Breeders (HHB) Treasurer Betty Holt and Vice President Peter Arrigenna, HHB Member Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Jacobs,  Breeding Fund Fair Inspector Glenn Van Oort, Breeder Michael Kimelman, Goshen Historic Track President Bernie White and GHT Director Gene Huske.

The meeting was called to order at 2:10 PM.   

Agenda Item #1.   Public Comment - Chairman Sabini called for Public Comment.  No one presented public comment.

Agenda Item #2.  Minutes of Last Meeting - Motion by Trustee Hamilton, seconded by Acting-Trustee Czub to approve the minutes of the January 9, 2009 meeting as presented.  All in favor.

Agenda Item #3.  Fund Finances – Peter Goold provided an overview of the Fund finances stating that the VLT revenue was up and the Fund’s investments continue to be 100% secure in a Short-Term Investment Pool (STIP) which is controlled by the Office of State Comptroller.  The current interest rate on invested funds is .0025%, Chairman Sabini asked if there were any questions to which there were none.

Agenda Item #4.   Internal Control Policies:

      Workplace Violence Prevention Policy (WVPP) - Director Goold noted that both these internal control policies are required by the Public Authority Accountability Act (PAAA).  A motion to  approve the policy as presented was offered by Trustee Hamilton and seconded by Trustee  Angiolillo. All in favor

     Whistleblower Policy  (WP) - Chairman Sabini noted that this policy is also required by the Public Authority Accountability Act, although not necessarily as crucial in an agency with only 2 staff members as it might be in a larger authority.  A motion to approve the policy as presented was offered by Acting-Trustee Czub and seconded by Trustee Hamilton. All in favor.

Agenda Item #5.  Grant Requests:

     Goshen Historic Track - Chairman Sabini commented that Goshen Historic Track (GHT) has a long and rich history as the cradle of the trotter in the U.S. and therefore is an important facility most worthy of support from the Breeding Fund. Trustee Angiolillo requested that GHT President provide to Breeding Fund staff and Trustees a set of plans and engineering drawings for this project. Mr. White agreed readily that he would provide same in very near future. A motion to approve a grant of $50,000, on a reimbursement basis, to build the new 17 stall stable behind “lawyer’s row” was offered by Trustee Angiolillo and seconded by Acting-Trustee Czub . All in favor

     Morrisville College - Chairman Sabini noted that Morrisville College plans to expand it equine studies program and that the new drug testing laboratory at Morrisville has plans to become a leader in athletic drug testing in the nation. A motion to approve the $25,000 grant for the drug testing facility to be paid immediately was offered by Acting-Trustee Czub and seconded by Trustee Hamilton. All in favor.

Agenda Item #6. Vendor Contract:

     Harness Horse Breeders of New York State  -  Chairman Sabini noted the natural and fruitful relationship between the Harness Horse Breeders and the Breeding Fund that has been in existence for the past 45 years.  Trustee Hamilton raised the issue of the current contract cycle which spans two calendar years and suggested the merits of synchronizing the contract with the calendar year. Considerable discussion ensued on the technical aspects of how to do this legally. Finally, with the aid of legal advice from NYSR&WB Attorney Robert Feuerstein it was decided to extend the 2009-2010 $125,000 contract with HHB for six months until December 31, 2010 and then to enter into a new annual contract with Harness Horse Breeders on January 1, 2011. A motion to do this was offered by Trustee Hamilton and seconded by Acting-Trustee Czub. All in favor. 

Agenda Item #7.  Trustees Discussion, Other Business –

Trustee Angiolillo raised the subject of a Breeding Fund Board Trustee seat vacancy. Both Trustee Hamilton and Trustee Angiolillo opined that Blue Chip Farms President Michael Kimelman would bring considerable experience and knowledge to this position. Chairman Sabini noted that the only obstacle to Mr. Kimelman for this position would be the fact that he holds a NYSR&WB license to drive horses in New York State pari-mutuel races.  Trustee Angiolillo questioned this situation and asked for the pertinent legal citations.  Chairman Sabini promised to provide same after the meeting concluded.

Chairman Sabini made brief closing comments to thank everyone for attending.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:01 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,

Peter Goold, Executive Director

Minutes were approved on 10/21/10 by the Board of Trustees