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BULLETIN BOARD
New owner's seminar at Harrah's Chester
by John Pawlak, USTA marketing director, Columbus, Ohio
June 10, 2008 – Columbus, OH --- Those who reside in the greater Philadelphia area, who are interested in owning a Standardbred racehorse, are invited to a free seminar that will be conducted on Sunday, June 15, at Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack.
The event will begin at 1:00 p.m., and a live racing program, which will feature the $500,000 Ben Franklin Final for Free For All pacers, will get underway at 3:00 p.m.
Mike Izzo, of the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association, will take part in the presentation, and will speak about tax issues of importance to racehorse owners. The topics to be discussed include the costs, risks and rewards of harness racing, and how to select a trainer and horse.
Advance registration is required. Participants will receive a one year subscription to Hoof Beats magazine, and a $10 credit for the USTA’s online database, PATHWAY, will be given to those who provide an e-mail address.
To reserve a spot contact Rick Kane, race secretary at Harrah’s Chester, at (484) 490-2222, or call Jamie Coffy at the U.S. Trotting Association at (877) 800-8782, ext. 3260.
SBAP Tours Racetracks and Farms With PA Senate
Agriculture Committee
SBAP Tours Sylmar Farms With PA Senators and Officials
May 28, 2008 – In co-operation with the Pennsylvania Thoroughbred Horsemens Association and Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, SBAP Executive Director Paul Spears and Hershey Philbin lobbyist Linda Rhinehart visited several racetracks and a Thoroughbred boarding and training facility today as part of an informational tour with members of the PA Senate Agricultural Committee. In attendance were Senators Michael Brubaker (Committee Chair), Michael Waugh, Shirley Kitchen, John Eichelberger, and Tommy Tomlinson, as well as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Cheryl Cook and Melinda Tucker of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.
The tour began at Sylmar Farms, a beautiful Thoroughbred boarding/breeding/training facility in Christiana, PA owned by the Houghton family. PTHA Vice President Sal DeBunda and PHBA Executive Director Mark McDermott informed the group about the costs of boarding, breeding, and racing Thoroughbred horses in the Commonwealth. SBAP representatives stressed the need for continued support of PA Agriculture through slots legislation, and inclusion of the interests of PA breeders in any future table games legislation.
Next, the group headed to Chester Downs for a tour, with special attention to the top notch race paddock facilities in the backstretch during a regular racing day. After a great buffet lunch, Paul Spears spoke to the group about the meaning of live handle, the need for racetracks to promote racing to new fans, and the importance of preserving the benefits of gaming legislation for the citizens of Pennsylvania through property tax relief and support of PA agriculture. Sal DeBunda and the PTHA lobbyist, Gary Babin, also gave presentations about purse distributions, and how racing purses ultimately support PA agriculture.
Finally, the tour ended at Philadelphia Park, where the group was joined by Senator Tomlinson and Greenwood Gaming President Robert Green for presentations, a tour of their temporary gaming facility, and several live races. PTHA Executive Director Mike Ballezzi announced that their Association recently concluded negotiations to represent Philadelphia Park horsemen through 2018, and to work with Philadelphia Park in $25,000,000 of renovations to their backstretch facilities.
The tour concluded with a tour of the Philadelphia Park backstretch, which as advertised is extremely dilapidated and in need of repair. Work has already started on several barns, with input on design by PTHA officials.
SBAP was pleased to have the opportunity to present these five Senators with information concerning the operational aspects of Standardbred racing, the live racing experience for Standardbred fans, and the ongoing needs of both Standardbred and Thoroughbred breeders to upgrade their facilities while expanding the auction markets for their yearlings.
Brittany Farms Donates 2008 Breeding To Four Starzzz Shark, Pin Oak Lane Farms Donates 2008 Breeding to Up Front Charlie to Support SBAP
April 8 – Brittany Farms has kindly donated a 2008 breeding to World Champion Aged Pacer Four Starzzz Shark p,3, 1:50.4; 1:47.4 ($2,537,267) to support SBAP. Standing at Walnridge Farm of Pennsylvania in Elizabethtown, Four Starzzz Shark stands for a fee of $6,000. Four Starzzz Shark’s first crop will be racing in 2008. At 3, Four Starzzz Shark won the Cane Pace, NJSS Final, Jersey Cup, and Rooney Consolation; at 4, the Haughton Memorial and Canadian Pacing Derby elim.; at 5, Graduate Series elim. and Canadian Pacing Derby; at 6, Haughton Memorial, Graduate Series elim., and Molson Pace.
Pin Oak Lane Farm donated a 2008 breeding to Up Front Charlie p,3, 1:50.1 ($314,888) to support SBAP. Standing at Pin Oak Lane Maryland Division, Up Front Charlie stands his first season for a fee of $2,500. Up Front Charlie is a son of Dragon Again out of the On The Road Again mare, Lovin Yankee. At 2, Up Front Charlie won The Niatross Pace at the Meadowlands; second in both the elimination and final of the Woodrow Wilson, and Metro elim. At 3, he won his Breeders Crown elim.; third in Bluegrass S; fifth in Breeders Crown Final. Note: Up Front Charlie stands in Maryland: his foals are eligible to Maryland events.
Please contact Jennifer Krentler at 717 – 637 – 8931 or at jkrentler@hanoverpa.com with your interest in breeding to one of these fine stallions.
First Annual Celebration of Pennsylvania Harness Racing Is Huge Success
Catherine Baker Knoll (left), Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, presents the first Mary Lib Miller Award for outstanding contribution to Pennsylvania harness racing to Melinda Tucker, Director of Racetrack Gaming for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. |
Harold Brocious (wheelchair) won four awards at the
banquet, and made a funny and moving acceptance
speech afterwards. |
Hanover Shoe Farms won three breeding awards, including Breeder of the Year; Murray Brown (second from left) and Jim Simpson (right) accept awards from Fonda Civitello and Jerry Connors.
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Ron Burke, son of trainer Mickey Burke, accepted trophies for Pennsylvania Horse of the Year May June Character from Fonda Civitello and Jerry Connors of the Harness Commission.
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by Gerry Connors
February 11, 2008 - Adios winner May June Character was honored as Pennsylvania Harness Horse of the Year, while world record-setting freshman trotter Lear Jetta was named PA Sire Stakes Horse of the Year -- the top equine prizes given at the first annual Celebration of Pennsylvania Harness Racing, held at Harrah’s Chester racetrack.
Melinda Tucker, Director of Racetrack Gaming for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board and its chief liaison with the racing industries, was honored with the Mary Lib Miller Award, named for the vivacious spouse of Del Miller, for outstanding contribution to Pennsylvania Harness Racing. Completing a “female trifecta” of awardees were a pair of winners of the “Friend of Pennsylvania Harness Racing” trophy: Catherine Baker Knoll, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania and a staunch harness enthusiast, and Cheryl Bender, who was the chief motivating impetus in bringing racing back to the Erie County Fair after a year’s absence due to financial constraints.
An emotional high point of the evening came with the naming of Dave and Ronna Brickell as Pennsylvania Owners of the Year. Dave was the leading trainer on the Keystone fair circuit in 2007 despite living with an ongoing tragedy: the gradual wasting away and eventual death of his beloved spouse Ronna from Lou Gehrig’s disease. A large portion of the Brickell Family came to the stage to take part in this trophy presentation.
The biggest collector of trophies -- four -- was captured, as you might expect at a Pennsylvania dinner, by an entity beginning with “H” -- but this time it was Small Breeder of the Year Harold Brocious, 74 years young, whose horses also won three blankets emblematic of topping their fair division. The “H” you were probably thinking of -- Hanover -- had to make do with three awards, including Breeder of the Year.
The Celebration of Pennsylvania Harness Racing was created largely through the drive of Racing Commission Deputy Director of Harness Racing Anton J. Leppler and the harmonic, solid financial support of all the entities supporting Pennsylvania harness racing. Some 350 guests enjoyed the fine presentation by the Chester staff and then the inclusive awards program hosted by the one and only Roger Huston.
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Application (PDF FILE) for the SBAP
P.O. Box 339
• 2310 Hanover Pike
Hanover, PA 17331
Phone: 717 - 637 - 8931
FAX 717 - 637- 6766 |
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