2016 NHBPA Winter Convention
Clearwater Beach, Florida
February 3-7, 2016
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Audio:
Convention Agenda
Keynote Speaker
Stella Thayer, President,
Tampa Bay Downs
Speaker Bio
Today, perhaps more than at any time in its history, thoroughbred horse racing is in a state of flux. A shortage of horses, a decrease in handle, and competition for gaming dollars are just some of the challenges the industry faces. However, amid all of this is one of racings jewels, Tampa Bay Downs. Known for high-caliber Thoroughbred horse racing, exciting no-limits tournament action in The Silks Poker Room and quality instruction and amenities at The Downs Golf Practice Facility, Tampa Bay Downs has emerged as the premier multi-entertainment destination on Florida’s west coast. As the track celebrates its 90th anniversary season, its remarkable history is worth another look.
“Horseracing heading into the future from the perspective of Stella Thayer”
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Public Relations Forum
“Establishing Public Relations & the Importance of Media Awareness”
Growing the fan base for the racing industry to survive, let alone prosper. In today’s market it is imperative that through proper public relations and positive media awareness that we encourage excellence and growth in the horse racing industry by providing owners, trainers and most importantly fans with timely information and access to local resources. The goal of your PR team and your media presence should be to ensure an exciting experience and valuable information by serving the diverse needs of the Thoroughbred industry. In this day and age with time being limited, positive PR and media presence should be geared toward public relations and media awareness should be is designed to make your disseminated information more efficient and productive. Our goal here today, is to assist many of you the details so you can focus on getting the most from your Public Relations and your affiliates Media Awareness.
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NTRA Advantage Member Benefits Presentation
AS A MEMBER OF THE HBPA, YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR SIGNIFICANT SAVINGS ON NATIONALLY KNOWN PRODUCTS THROUGH NTRA ADVANTAGE. Not only are you a part of an international sport, but your involvement entitles you to special savings on products used for your equine farm, business, or personal use.
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NTRA Safety & Integrity Alliance
The Safety & Integrity Alliance is one of the Thoroughbred industry’s key mechanisms for implementation of important safety and integrity initiatives on a uniform basis nationwide. It is this effort that I feel brings the HBPA Affiliates and the NTRA together. It is imperative that we work with our industry partners to ensure the safest workplace for our members and most importantly our athletes. The NTRA Safety and Integrity Alliance was formed in 2008 to establish and implement national uniform standards in the areas of safety and integrity.
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ARCI Presentation
The Association of Racing Commissioners, International, ARCI is the only umbrella organization that is the officially sanctioned governing rulemaking bodies for professional horse and greyhound racing. The duties of the ARCI include setting the standards for racing regulations, medication policies, drug testing laboratories, totalizer systems, racetrack operation and security, as well as off-track wagering entities. ARCI members are the only independent entities recognized to license, enforce, and adjudicate matters pertaining to racing. Recently, under current Chairman Mark Lamberth, the ARCI has set forth several committees whose goal is to promote the adoption of the ARCI Model Medication rules for national, uniform standards for drugs and testing, and enforcement procedures within the ARCI Model Rules. Understanding the differences and concerns that many groups have expressed, led to the “town meetings” discussion groups proposed by Chairman Lamberth. The National HBPA and its Affiliates along with the ARCI want to focus on efforts to create a “central rule-making process” and achieve “uniform medication policies and consistent implementation, and we must work together to achieve this goal.
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Thoroughbred Aftercare
“Doing the Right Thing: A Forum for Thoroughbred Aftercare and Racetrack Benevolence”
Thoroughbred Aftercare continues to grow in importance and visibility throughout our sport, but at the same time we must not forget about the human aspect and racetrack benevolence. We as a group of horsemen must remember it is in our mission statement to work for the improvement of our business and conditions for our employees, Horsemen and retired athletes alike. We must continue to aid in providing benefits for off-the-job injuries and illnesses which are not covered by benefits or other types of health, medical, dental or accident insurance. We must also continue working with owners, breeders, trainers and racetrack management in various race tracks throughout the Nation to ensure the proper care of our retired race horses. Additionally we must find and maintain ways to facilitate and provide a means for the public to view racehorses that are available for purchase or adoption. Please help me in promoting the message of Doing the Right Thing, for both Horsemen and our wonderful athletes.
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Working With, Not Against Professional Gamblers Forum
I think we all understand that growing the fan base and the handle is essential for our racing industry to thrive in this ever competing market for the gambling dollar. It is imperative for HBPA affiliates to remain committed to offer what we perceive as the best account wagering possible for the mutual benefit of the racetracks, horsemen and its customers by creating and expanding that would otherwise be minimal or non-existent. Just as HBPA members and our affiliates remain dedicated in customer service and show continued support to the professional handicappers while generating maximum revenues for the industry. The HBPA Affiliates should take active roles in knowing its customers handicapping their racetracks. We should seek to expand the handle while respecting racetracks while protecting horsemen by generating increased revenues for all parties.
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Marketing Importance Presentation
Presenter:
Jennie Rees,
Communications and Advocacy Specialist
JR Communications, LLC
Jennie is a six-time Eclipse Award winner and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame’s Joe Hirsch Media Roll of Honor in 2014. Rees is married to veteran Kentucky trainer Pay Dupuy and has been licensed as a hot walker in nine states.
Audio:
Medication Forum
Regulatory Over-Reaction to Inconsequential Trace Level Substance Identifications
Moderator:
Kent Stirling,
Chair, National HBPA Medication Committee
Agenda:
1. Panel Introduction and Opening Remarks, Mr. Kent Stirling
2. “Recent Examples from Kentucky Racing Regulation” Presented by Mr. Mike Meuser, Esq.
3. “Recent Examples from Florida Racing Regulation” Presented by Mr. Bradford J. Beilly, Esq.
4. “Inconsequential Trace Level Identifications of Therapeutic Medications” Presented by Dr. Clara Fenger, DVM, PhD, DACVIM
5. “Inconsequential Trace Level Identifications of Environmental Substances” Presented by Dr. Thoams Tobin, MVB, MRCVS, MSc, PhD, DABT, Professor of Veterinary Science, Gluck Research Center, Professor, The Graduate Center for Toxicology, University of Kentucky
6. Panel Discussion and Questions
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Benefit Providers Committee
Mission:
The Mission of the National Benefit Providers Committee is to develop, maintain and disseminate information pertinent to a coordinated administration of horsemen’s benefits programs in order to identify areas of new knowledge and improvements through communication and commitment.
Co-Chairpersons:
MaryAnn O’Connell
Richard Riedel
Audio:
Legislative Affairs Update
We have a goal within the Legislative Affairs Committee, and that goal is to work effectively with federal officials to ensure their understanding of the impact our industry brings to the country. By making sure federal officials are educated on our industry we hope to gain favor in order to ensure the wellbeing of our industry and the rights of all horsemen.
2016 National HBPA Legislative Tax Update
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20 Winsamillion Innovative Gaming Presentation
20 Wins A Million is a “Play For Free” promotional game sponsored by licensed partner pari-mutuel racetracks in North America. First player to correctly pick 20 winners in a row wins the $1,000,000 Grand Prize. We all know we must attract a new fan base to racing. It’s millenials, right? How do we get their interest? Become part of an aggressive, engaging millenial movement to racing. Get their interest by WINNING!!!
Presentation: Recruiting Millenials To Your Track
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Where We Are Now: Update on NAARV
The North American Association of Racetrack Veterinarians (NAARV) is an organization founded in 2014 with its inaugural meeting at the Hotel Monaco in Salt Lake City on Sunday December 7th, 2014.
Due to overwhelming interest by the members of the Track Vets group, AAEP and non-AAEP members alike, we have undertaken to form a Track Vets organization. Among our goals are complete transparency and to always seek input from our constituency.
The AAEP necessarily has a diluted mission which requires lack of focus on any particular discipline for the horse. NAARV was formed for the purpose of focusing on the unique health and welfare needs of the racehorse. It is NAARV’s position that it is the Racetrack Practitioner who can best speak for the welfare of the race horse. It is only within the context of an exclusive organization that we can accomplish these goals. We seek a complementary and not antagonistic relationship with the Equine Practitioner’s flagship organization.
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2016 NHBPA Executive Committee
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NHBPA – NHAC Board of Directors Meeting
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