Magna Entertainment Corp. Chairman Frank Stronach pronounced Sunday that he is willing for Magna's seven racetracks to rejoin the National Thoroughbred Racing Association if the NTRA commits to a more democratic system of choosing members of its board of directors.After holding the first of what he said could be a series of open forums on the state of the racing industry, Stronach said NTRA officials "are close" to agreeing to his demand, which he first raised more than a year ago. He also revealed that he would be willing to serve on the NTRA board if the election system is reformed.

"I've always said a national organization would be a good thing for racing. I've always said the directors should be elected. But it has been said that if I don't get my way, I won't play the game. That is not the case," Stronach said. "How can you be against democracy? As to how we're going to go about it, I'm wide open."

"We have a very good chance" of reaching a consensus in the near future, said D. G. Van Clief Jr., NTRA vice chairman and president of Breeders' Cup Ltd.

Other officials at the forum predicted that an agreement could be reached within the next two weeks.

Stronach's push to open up racing's governing bodies also apparently will affect the Breeders' Cup board of directors. Van Clief said Breeders' Cup officials are now reviewing their methodology for electing directors and are hopeful of resolving the issue in "the next few days."

Breeders' Cup, which has merged with NTRA, was due to receive three newly-created seats on the NTRA board of directors, increasing the NTRA board to 15 positions.

Currently, there are 46 seats on the Breeders' Cup board of directors, and Stronach, a major owner-breeder through his Adena Springs farm, has challenged how those members are selected and how the organization would choose its NTRA representatives. Those issues formed the crux of conversation during a meeting on January 7 between Stronach, Van Clief, NTRA Commissioner Tim Smith, and several current NTRA directors.

Of the 46 Breeders' Cup directors, six are appointed by founding members of the organization, 14 are the presidents of state breeding organizations in states where at least 100 foals are nominated annually to the Breeders' Cup program, and the remaining 26 are chosen by existing board members, Van Clief said.

Stronach suggested that each breeder or stallion owner who pays to nominate horses to the program be given a vote for Breeders' Cup board members that would be representational of his or her investment.

The three-hour open forum provoked a candid discussion and drew more than 100 participants, including racetrack owners and operators, trainers, owners, and racing officials.

Joe De Francis, president of the Maryland Jockey Club, spoke for the Mid-Atlantic regional tracks, which also have withdrawn from the NTRA. He said the NTRA has not adequately marketed racing, has become involved with businesses such as the Television Games Network which compete with some racetrack's wagering systems, and has favored some groups over others in its policies.

"These issues need to be reexamined and there need to be new policies put in place to better represent all members," De Francis said.

Other speakers included Bob Green, chairman of Philadelphia Park and the Racing Network; John Roarke, chairman of the Texas Horsemen's Partnership and vice president of the national Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association; John Brunetti Sr., president of Hialeah Park, and owner-breeder Brereton Jones, former governor of Kentucky.—Michele MacDonald