Horseman groups unite to create new organization
Representatives of eight Thoroughbred horsemen's associations have joined together to create the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Group, a limited liability company organized to promote individual and collaborative interstate simulcasting activities.
"The Thoroughbred Horsemen's Group is the logical next step for horsemen's organizations dealing with simulcast issues in a multi-jurisdictional business environment with multi-track consortiums and integrated companies like TrackNet Media," said racehorse owner Bob Reeves, the newly elected president of the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Group. Reeves also serves as a director of the Ohio Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and co-chair of the National HBPA's Wagering and Alternative Gaming Committee.
"We believe that our company will create efficiencies in simulcasting administration and implementation; enhance the effectiveness of horsemen's organizations as representatives of the industry's most important stakeholder, the racehorse owner; and in the long-term help improve the competitiveness and productivity of the Thoroughbred racing industry.
“Our game faces new challenges, the simulcasting model is outdated, and we are confident that the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Group can be a constructive instrument for horsemen to address those challenges and contribute to their solutions."
Enrolling as members of the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Group are HBPA organizations from Virginia, Kentucky, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Louisiana as well as the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association and the Texas Horsemen's Partnership.
Named as officers of the company in addition to Reeves are Pennsylvania HPBA President Joe Santanna, treasurer; Virginia HBPA Executive Director Frank Petramalo, secretary and general counsel.