CALIFORNIA HORSEMEN FOR CHANGE DOMINATE CTT ELECTION
Trainers in Northern and Southern California have elected a new board of directors to California Thoroughbred Trainers after the sitting board agreed to resign en masse when confronted by possible decertification last year by a new organization, California Horsemen for Change, started by one-time California Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association leader Darrell Vienna.
Ed Halpern, executive director of the CTT, said the following nine trainers were elected to the new board: Bob Baffert, Jeff Bonde, Gloria Haley, Terry Knight, Doug O’Neill, John Sadler, John Shirreffs, Darrell Vienna, and Kathy Walsh. Bonde, Haley and Knight were elected to represent Northern California, while the remaining six represent Southern California.
Baffert, Bonde, O’Neill, Sadler, Shirreffs, Vienna, and Walsh were listed as supporters of California Horsemen for Change in a letter written to trainers last October. Shirreffs was the only member of the previous CTT board reelected in balloting that took place from early January until Jan. 18.
The new board is scheduled to meet and elect new officers next Wednesday. Jim Cassidy served as the last CTT president.
“I’m hopeful this election will generate a new sense of participation among the membership,” said Halpern.
When the Thoroughbred Owners of California was created 15 years ago, replacing the HBPA in matters such as purse negotiations with racetracks, the CTT was created to deal with backstretch conditions, track safety, and benevolence matters. As California racing’s fortunes have declined in recent years, there has been growing unrest among trainers over a number of issues.
California Horsemen for Change pointed to the following as areas of concern:
- the poor economic state of the racetracks and the uncertainty over the future of Hollywood Park, Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and Del Mar;
- questions about the safety of synthetic tracks;
- a desire to be more closely engaged with TOC.
(For additional background on the dispute among California trainers, click here to read an earlier Paulick Report article on the issue.)
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Tags: Bob Baffert, california horsemen for change, california thoroughbred trainers, ctt, darrell vienna, doug o'neill, ed halpern, gloria haley, jeff bonde, jim cassidy, john sadler, john shirreffs, Kathy Walsh, Paulick Report, Ray Paulick, terry knight, thoroughbred owners of california, toc
January 21st, 2010 at 3:39 pm
I love it.
It’s about time we had some changes and got some quality people involved.
Get all the knuckleheads out.
I hope it’s not too late for Southern California racing.
January 21st, 2010 at 4:21 pm
I like it, but I wish they had a desire to be more closely engaged with a players organization, like HANA. I guess that is shooting too high. rwwupl
January 21st, 2010 at 6:02 pm
I applaude those at the root level of California Horsemen for Change for stepping up and fighting for what is right. Progress is already being made. Keep the pressure on.
January 21st, 2010 at 9:29 pm
I wish all parties the best. Horse racing in California is worth saving.
January 22nd, 2010 at 12:30 pm
The more things change the more they stay the same.
John Shirreffs is an outstanding man and horseman and the CTT is very fortunate to have him. Hopefully his character values, superior horsemanship, and compassion toward his horses will rub-off.
January 23rd, 2010 at 11:45 am
congratulations !
a very meaningful development in this critical time of chaos !