(1-28-2012)
Hello Everyone,
Welcome back for a brief update here on the Executive's Corner.
I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be mailing out ballots for the 2012 KHHA Director's Election within the next couple of days. There will be a total of 9 candidates (5 incumbents and 4 self-nominated) vying for 6 seats. Please make sure to read the instructions carefully when casting your ballot. AGAIN, please make sure to carefully follow the instructions. We had a few ballots that came in to the accounting firm last year that had to be voided due to a signature not being found on the outside envelope. We also had a ballot that had more than 6 candidates marked. Remember, you can vote for a total of six candidates (or less), but any ballot with more than six marked is automatically voided.
I will also let everyone know to stay tuned over the next couple of days, because we are likely to have some news regarding an expanded gaming constitutional amendment within the next 48 hours. Early indicators are that it will be a favorable bill for the racing industry, but as always, we need to monitor the situation closely to see what specific language actually ends up in the bill. I will be posting any breaking news to the KHHA Facebook page, so please stay tuned.
I am in Lexington this week, before heading back up to Buffalo for the end of the week. If you need one reason to be glad you are in Kentucky and not in Buffalo, check out this replay from the Open Pace on Saturday night!! Talk about racing in an absolute blizzard!! It was actually a really fun race to watch (from indoors), at least what I could see of it....
http://66.209.93.91/racereplays/cust/harnessracing.php?r=20120128BU7
Please call or email with any questions or concerns.
Until next time,
Gabe
(1-8-2012)
Hello Friends,
Welcome back for a post holiday update here on the Executive's Corner. I wanted to pop in for a quick update before heading up north for our opening night at Buffalo which is this Wednesday night. Temperatures are supposed to be in the upper 40's, not sure how long that will last but I'll take it for now. The plan is for us to be on TVG on Wednesday nights, as we begin with a 5 p.m. post. Check us out if you get a chance.
I have been working on a lot of housekeeping things in the office over the last week, and many of you have spoken to me about 1099 forms and other odds and ends to wrap up the end of the year. I expect to send out the KHHA Owner's Bonus 1099 forms tomorrow afternoon, and I will save you from the boredom of the rest of the office tasks over the last couple of weeks.
I am ASSUMING (I will feel 100% confident after tomorrow's mail run) that I have received all KHHA Board of Directors nominations. The KHHA incumbents running for re-election are Don Conrad, Pat Housh, Jim Powell, Tom Shehan, and Kevin Thomas. Those five will join self-nominated candidates Mike Murphy, Brett Schultz, James Stiltner, and Ken Terpenning. There will be a total of 9 candidates going for 6 spots. Again, I will feel 100% certain that is the final list after checking the mail tomorrow. I feel like that will be ample time given the Dec 31st postmark requirement. I'd like to wish all of the candidates the best of luck, and a reminder for everyone to be looking for those ballots along with a KHHA renewal notice towards the end of the month.
I would also like to take a moment to thank current KHHA Director Eddie Blair for his service to Kentucky horsemen over the last several years. Eddie has decided not to run for another 3-year term, but I'd like to point out that he has been a strong advocate for Kentucky horsemen, and particularly for eastern KY horsemen at Thunder Ridge. I know Eddie has been active in the Paintsville/Prestonsburg area trying to promote harness racing by setting up a KHHA booth at different events/shows and by trying to get publicity in the local papers. As someone who has attempted to promote the sport with fliers and other avenues on their own time, I can tell you that it is certainly not easy. Many people like to sit back and point out things that should be done, but very few will go out on their own time, dime, and effort and attempt to do things to promote the sport. For that and all else over the last several years, we thank Eddie again for his voluntary service.
I hope all else is well for everyone, and it won't be long before the racing season will be upon us.
Have a great week everyone.
Gabe
(12-18-2011)
Hello Everyone,
Welcome back for another Executive's Corner update, and I'd like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and safe holiday season. I'd also like to take a moment to remind everyone to keep KHHA Director Jack Gray Jr. and family in your thoughts and prayers, as Jack's brother, Steve, passed away last week.
We had a nice few days at the HHI meetings in Florida, and it was great to see representatives from all the horsemen's associations across the country. The state reports basically break down into two categories, the haves (PA, NY, DE, etc.) and the have-nots (KY, OH, MI, IL, etc.). Those of us in the have-not category have got to find a way onto the other side.
Speaking of which, you may have seen that Governor Beshear publicly came out in support of expanded gaming on the first day of his second term and is feverishly supporting putting expanded gaming on the ballot in November 2012 for a public vote. I am hearing that the votes are there in both the House and Senate to get the issue on the ballot, but time will tell whether that is the case. I know the Governor wanted the Senate to introduce and pass the bill first given the problems expanded gaming has faced in the KY State Senate over the years. The general feeling is that it is a 'sure thing' that it would pass the House. Our Senate President, David Williams, has stated numerous times in the past that although he does not support a constitutional amendment to expand gaming that he would not stand in the way. It will certainly be interesting to see how he reacts to what is sure to be a MAJOR issue in 2012. I know many have expressed concern about the possible results of putting the issue to a public vote for 'all the marbles,' but at this point it is our ONLY chance of ever getting it passed.
On the other hand, our other potential game changer continues to grow in popularity with every passing month at Kentucky Downs. In November, wagering on Instant Racing jumped to $8.4 MILLION, a 24 percent increase over the prior month. Most of the money was paid back to the players of course, but the state, horsemen, and track still split over $700,000 for the ONE MONTH. It is expected that we (horsemen) would receive approximately 15% of that figure which would equate to over $100,000 for the one month. Can you imagine if we got an additional $1.2 million for each of our purse accounts at the three tracks?? Wow! We could put out an excellent overnight program and could also direct a portion of the funds to the KY Fairs. How about a fair season that would start the first week of June and continue EVERY week for 3 months?
It is hard not to continue going on and on about what 'could' happen if we get Instant Racing up and rolling at our three tracks. Combine that with the possibility of expanded gaming appearing on the November 2012 ballot, and it is hard not to get excited about the future if things fall into place. Having said that, expanded gaming talk could end up going nowhere and Instant Racing could be deemed illegal tomorrow. However, I really think we are in better position than we have been in the last decade to make things happen.
I had lunch in Florida with folks from 3 other states where a constitutional amendment to expand gaming has been on the ballot, and got a lot of ideas on what worked and what didn't work. One thing is for sure, if we do get that opportunity we will need EVERYONE'S help in spreading our message. Here in Kentucky, we have the benefit of an organization like KEEP and a powerful thoroughbred industry. You can bet a lot of coin will be dropped on both sides of the fight, but a lot of times those types of things can depend on who can reach the most people on a grass roots level. If the issue is brought up in the 2012 session, I will be taking a page out of the Illinois HHA playbook and be posting phone numbers of our state representatives and senators so that all may light up the phone lines of their representative.
One final reminder, any KHHA member interested in running for the Board of Directors should send a letter to the KHHA office stating their intentions to be postmarked no later than December 31, 2011.
Keep your fingers crossed, my report next year at the HHI meetings could be a LOT different!
Merry Christmas!
Gabe
(11-30-2011)
Hello Friends,
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and welcome back for another quick update here on the Executive's Corner. I am actually sitting in the airport this morning awaiting a (delayed) flight to Fort Lauderdale (happens everytime I fly US Air) to head down to represent Kentucky in the annual Harness Horsemen International meetings. It is a tough job to head to Florida in the first week of December, but someone has to do it. It should be a great few days, and the annual race secretary meetings will be taking place at the same time. Hopefully one of these years my state report will include the introduction of gaming in Kentucky, but unfortunately I won't be able to include that this year.
I wanted to remind everyone that any KHHA member interested in running for the KHHA Board of Directors should send a letter to the office stating their intentions to be postmarked no later than December 31st. The KHHA Directors up for re-election at the end of 2011 are Eddie Blair, Don Conrad, Pat Housh, Jim Powell, Tom Shehan, and Kevin Thomas. We had great participation last year, and it will be interesting to see how things play out this year.
I will keep everyone posted on any important news coming out of Florida, and I would also like to mention that the 2012 KY Fair Schedule has been updated.
Finally, I would like to drop in a quick personal note and let everyone know that I will be starting out as the announcer for the 2012 racing season at Buffalo Raceway. I will be splitting my time between NY and KY during that time, and nothing will change as far as the day to day operations of the KHHA. I will be at Buffalo for every race night that my Kentucky schedule allows.
I will be available via phone or email this week in Florida, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Have a safe week everyone.
Until next time,
Gabe
(11-14-2011)
Hello Friends,
It's been a crazy couple of weeks, as I've been filling in as announcer at Northfield Park and have been back and forth to Cleveland several times recently. Speaking of, I'll be back at Northfield Park tonight (Monday - 11/14).
Here in Kentucky, we are less than a week past several major statewide elections. Governor Steve Beshear (D) was re-elected with ease, and fought off his challengers "under wraps." Governor Beshear received 56% of the total vote, while David Williams (R) took 35%. Williams was dominated in most areas of the state, and really got trounced in central Kentucky areas heavily populated with horse farms. My attorney and long time gubernatorial candidate, Gatewood Galbraith, certainly had to embarrass Williams by BEATING him in 4 counties including Woodford, Bourbon, and Franklin. Gatewood ran neck and neck with Williams in Lexington, before ultimately finishing one point behind him (23% to 22%). Galbraith only managed to get 9% statewide, but his strong showing in Central Ky really emphasizes the dislike for Williams in the area. Check out a Ray Paulick article calling for Williams to step up and finally support the horse industry:
http://www.paulickreport.com/news/ray-s-paddock/time-for-the-gambler-williams-to-ante-up-in-kentucky/
The Paulick Report is a great racing website, and even has a story or two about harness racing from time to time. Add it to your list of stops on the internet (www.paulickreport.com).
In what could have been an even more important race for us (KY Harness Racing), Republican James Comer easily won the race for Agriculture Commissioner. We look forward to meeting with Mr. Comer after he takes over to discuss the future of our industry in the state, including the Kentucky fair program. Mr. Comer was widely supported by the horse racing industry in the state, and actually ended up being the highest vote getter in all of the statewide races.
The Kentucky Fair schedule has been set for next season, and most things will stay the same with the exception of losing the Boyd Co Fair at Thunder Ridge. This means we will have a total of 7 county fairs now, and now folks will only have to participate in 4 of the fairs to be eligible for the finals. We certainly tried every way possible to keep the fair going at Thunder Ridge (even offering to put up all the money), but there was no deal to be made. I will update the 2012 fair schedule on the website when I get back from Cleveland on Tuesday.
I really do not have any other major updates at this time, other then to say I will be heading to Florida for the annual HHI (Harness Horsemen International) meetings at the end of this month. That has been a great event to network with other horsemen's groups throughout the country, and we typically have a phenomenal lineup of guest speakers which allows me to really learn a lot.
Please call me with any questions or concerns. I'll be back soon.
Until next time,
Gabe
(10-24-2011)
Hello Friends,
Welcome back for a long overdue update of the Executive's Corner. It is nice to finally be able to take a breath with the conclusion of the racing season at The Red Mile, but it is always a sad time of year as well. Maybe one of these days we can be like our thoroughbred counterparts, and offer a full slate of year round racing once again.
I anticipated the biggest news to come out of this afternoon's Kentucky Horse Racing Commission meeting would be the approval of Instant Racing at Ellis Park or the approval of 2012 race dates throughout the state, but it turns out that KHRC Executive Director Lisa Underwood submitted her resignation at the conclusion of today's proceedings. Director Underwood received a standing ovation from everyone in attendance and a heartfelt thank you from the entire commission. On behalf of the entire KHHA, I would like to thank Director Underwood for her tireless service as well, and wish her the best of luck in her future endeavors.
Deputy Director Marc Guilfoil has been assigned the role of Interim Executive Director as Governor Beshear launches a nationwide search to find Mrs. Underwood's replacement. I know from our perspective, and presumably from the perspective of many others in the state, the Governor would not have to look very far to determine that Marc would be an extremely capable replacement. Either way, we should know in the coming weeks.
In other news, racing dates were in fact approved for all three of our tracks in the state for 2012. Bluegrass Downs and The Red Mile applied for identical racing dates next season, with the only exception being that The Red Mile will bump Friday night racing to Saturday nights. It should be noted that our contract expires with The Red Mile at the conclusion of this year (2011), and that we will be in negotiations in the coming weeks over 2012 and beyond. I did make sure that we amended the dates to shorten the break in between the two tracks so that we do not run into the 30 day problem that we had this year. Thunder Ridge requested, and was granted, a 3-day reduction in dates next season to go with a 7-week (21 day) schedule. They are scheduled to kick off our 2012 racing calendar on Thursday, April 7th.
I wish I could provide an update on Instant Racing for everyone, but the only update I have is that there is no update. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide the details when something happens.
I will be attending the annual Kentucky Colt Association board meeting the first week of November at Beaver Dam. If anyone has any suggestions that they would like for me to bring up at the meeting, you are more than welcome to call or email. My goal will be to NOT start Western KY Fairs until we are racing at Bluegrass. Last year many will remember the Mayfield fair was held very early, hopefully we can get that adjusted.
Regardless of how big or small, I want to get back to a 'weekly' blog here. I will strive to include an Executive's Corner update on every weekly agenda.
Best of luck to our horsemen competing in other jurisdictions, and best of luck to everyone with their babies. Next year's Fair and KYSS Champs are out there somewhere!
Thanks for reading.
Until next time,
Gabe
