NEWS
Metzger appointed president of Thoroughbred Championship Tour
Posted: Saturday, July 24, 2004
Dan Metzger, president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, has been appointed as president and chief executive officer of the Thoroughbred Championship Tour. Metzger has been involved in formulating the Tour since TOBA proposed it in 2002 as a circuit that would link major stakes with six divisions of the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. The Tour is slated to begin in 2005, although issues remain unresolved over which racetracks would participate and the format.
TOBA and Breeders' Cup Ltd. have also yet to formalize an agreement to work together on the project.
"Right now probably for the last two years, a great majority of my time has been working on the TCT," Metzger said. "I will still have responsibilities at TOBA, but my primary focus will be to get the TCT moving ahead with the contract negotiations with the racetracks and finalizing everything with our Breeders' Cup agreement and working with the [National Thoroughbred Racing Association]."
Metzger confirmed that plans for the Tour have been re-evaluated since Southern California racetrack officials and the Thoroughbred Owners of California outlined concerns over the concept of the Tour at a meeting last month.
"There are some special issues and concerns in California and … we've got a very open mind over how to address the California issues," said Metzger, while declining to give specifics on the California officials' concerns. "We're planning to meet with them next week in Del Mar."
Metzger said he hopes to meet during the first week of August with officials from Churchill Downs Inc. regarding the Tour.
"We've had discussions with Churchill on the phone in recent weeks and at the sales, but nothing in a formal context," Metzger said. "We've had ongoing dialogue with Churchill officials and with [the New York Racing Association]."
In June, TOBA and Breeders' Cup reached an agreement in principle to work together on the Tour for a six-year period, with Breeders' Cup contributing $3-million in purse money for the Tour. Breeders' Cup President and NTRA Vice Chairman D. G. Van Clief Jr. said at the time that a contract would be developed by the end of June.
Metzger said the contract has been drafted, but not yet finalized.
"We just need to work through a few issues, which are just details," Metzger said. "They're mostly lawyerly type issues that we need to address, but nothing of major concern."—Jeff Lowe
