NAIFY OUT AS TOC CHAIR; PEGRAM TOPS BALLOTING IN BOARD ELECTION
By Ray Paulick
Apparently, throwing incumbents out of office isn’t limited to state and national politics.
Earlier this year, members of the California Thoroughbred Trainers voted to replace their existing board of directors with a new group, and former CTT president Jim Cassidy was one of those who found himself on the outside looking in.
Today, it was the Thoroughbred Owners of California who voted out their chairwoman, Marsha Naify, in a board election. Naify, who has served on the TOC board since 2004 and was elected chairwoman in 2007, finished third of five candidates running for two TOC board seats in California’s South district. Newly elected to the board in the South district was prominent owner Mike Pegram, who received the most votes of all candidates, 528. He was followed by incumbent Pablo Suarez, with 404 votes. Naify received 400 votes.
Two members were elected to represent the North district: incumbent Keith Pronske, with 280 votes, and Cal Fischer, with 194.
The newly seated board meets July 23, at which time new officers will be elected. The TOC vice chair is Madeline Auerbach, treasurer is Martin Bach, and Billy Koch serves as secretary. Other directors are David Bloom, Brian Boudreau, Pete Parrella, Donald Valpredo, and Arnold Zetcher.
The apparent dissatisfaction by voters in the direction of the TOC under Naify may be exceeded only by apathy among the organization’s members. Of 8,747 ballots mailed to owners and 350 to trainer-owner members, only 740 individuals voted in the election, or just over 8% of eligible voters.
In addition to the election of directors, the 2010 ballot included four proposed amendments to the TOC bylaws regarding expansion of the board and extending the sunset date of the Trainer-Owner category of directors. Current by-laws say an amendment requires a minimum quorum of 900 votes to qualify. All four resolutions received majority approval, but the number of affirmative votes was below the minimum required. Among the resolutions that fell short of a quorum was a vote to maintain the Trainer-Owner category, which the TOC Board now intends to pursue via urgency legislation. If approved, two incumbent Trainer-Owner directors will be restored and a third, Ed Moger, who won in the just completed election, would be added to the board.
Click here for complete TOC election results.
Tags: Billy Koch, Cal Fischer, california thoroughbred trainers, ctt, jim cassidy, Keith Pronske, Madeline Auerbach, Marsha Naify, Martin Bach, mike pegram, Pablo Suarez, thoroughbred owners of california, toc
July 2nd, 2010 at 7:45 am
Pegram is an excellent choice for this board. He’s a successful entrepreneur who will bring out-of-the-box ideas to the table.
Few people remember that, several years ago, Pegram and Dr. Allred proposed sweeping
changes to Los Alamitos racetrack which would have brought permanent major scale TB racing to the bouyant Orange County. Their plan called for a mile dirt track, 7/8 mile turf course, new and larger barns, and a revamped grandstand. The demographics of Los Alamitos compared to Hollywood Park are so far superior that it would have been a great boon for southern California. However, the TOC and Frank Stronach derailed the proposal, with the result that Pegram all but abandoned California racing in favor of investing in Nevada gambling enterprises.
Pegram’s major re-entry into California racing can only lead to better racing.
July 2nd, 2010 at 9:25 am
Whoever the new poo-bahs are, I can only hope that they’ll stop acting rabid about how much money can be extracted out of racing horses and prioritze integrity, transparency and the humane treatment of horses at the track and once they’re toast.
July 2nd, 2010 at 1:08 pm
My impression of the abandonment of Los Al was Dr. Allred’s wishes to not proceed.
Regardless, the primary purpose of the TOC is to enhance ROI for owners, not the humane treatment of horses once they leave the track. Its nice they legislated additional money to be distributed to rest homes, but that is a localized semi-solution.
I think there should be an industry requirement to insure a certain % of takeout that must go to support farms specifically designated for retired race horses.
July 2nd, 2010 at 1:28 pm
Watcher,
You knock Pegrams trainer one day and you talk praise about his owner another day. Make up your mind. What can Pegram do now for Ca. I think it’s a little late for anything.
July 2nd, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Dublin,
If you dont believe that Baffert needlesly goes through many dozens of young horses by his black-type workout fetish you are more naive than most horsemen. While Pegram has bankrolled many of these horses, his racetrack successes have apparently brought him back to Bobby. Others have not been so lucky.
Pegram’s business acumen is well proven in several industries. Personally, Id like to see him on the CHRB, but he may not be a California resident. In any event, he will be lighting fires under other California “leaders,” most of whom are trust-fund babies who consider themselves the elite rulers of the sport.
Give me a guy who earned his wealth on his own merits rather than the Harris’, Valpredos, Vessels, Schiffers, Naifys, and others who haven’t earned a paycheck from anyone other than their parents.
July 2nd, 2010 at 4:24 pm
The TOC claims the power of 9,000 members, but that number should be put into some perspective. Every Licensed Owner of horses in California is by law a member of the TOC,including the Commissioners of the CHRB.
The TOC, like many other organizations supporting industry interests,have no “Dues” and are supported in the most part by the fans.
“Active” members are much fewer, perhaps a couple of hundred. “Controlling” members are smaller yet, a few dozen. The rest are members in name only and have little idea of the issues,nor do they seem to care.
The vote was accordingly good and would not have been that high if the issue of electing leaders was not on the ballot….every member got a ballot…it only required a postage stamp.
The vote,accordingly was good, and would
July 3rd, 2010 at 6:56 am
it looks like America again to me !
July 3rd, 2010 at 8:48 am
I don’t think you will hear Mike Pegram complaining about Bob Baffert. Finds him Champions after Champions. Watcher, you must not be of fan of his. Did he get his money from his parents? You should never knock success. It’s not good for the soul.