Indiana Horse Racing Commission Meeting Notes
Date: January 16, 2007
Please note: These are NOT official minutes of the IHRC meeting. They are notes developed by our representative attending the meeting.
The Indiana Horse Racing Commission (IHRC) met on Tuesday, January 16, 2007, at the Indiana State Library. The brief, yet productive meeting was likely one of the shortest in duration of any in the history of IHRC meetings. Chairman Sarah McNaught called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Minutes from the November 14, 2006 meeting were approved by the Commissioners, as written. The meeting then progressed to the other items included on the agenda.
The first item on the agenda was the presentation and approval of the Application for Transfer of Ownership Process Timeline for Centaur, Inc. and Subsidiaries. This is in relation to the group’s plans to purchase Hoosier Park, the racetrack located in Anderson, Indiana. The IHRC attorney, Robin Babbitt, went over the commission’s requirements for any changes in racetrack ownership. In addition, he gave an overview of the process necessary for a transfer of ownership to occur. Babbitt’s explanation included three documents, with copies available for everyone in attendance. The first document was the Indiana statute explaining the IHRC’s process of making decisions on any permit application. It outlines the factors considered for issuing or denying a permit to anyone wishing to operate a racetrack in the state. The second document was the Indiana statute listing the permit criteria. It details the specific items or documents any applicant needs to show, including provisions for barns, grandstand, etc. The fact Hoosier Park is an existing facility makes this process much easier. The final document was a printed timeline for processing the required documents and meeting requirements to complete the ownership transfer. After presenting the timeline, Babbitt asked the commission to approve the timeline with two date amendments. The first date change was for issuing the Pre-Hearing Order. Originally listed as January 16, 2007 (same day as the meeting), Babbitt asked to have the date struck and he would complete the task by the end of the current week. The other date involved was the date listed for allowing interested non-parties to testify concerning the transfer of ownership. First listed as February 20, 2007, it was moved to February 27, 2006. This is the date of the actual public hearing, where outside input will be allowed. The commission voted to approve the date amendment request. Robert Hagemier, an attorney for the purchasing parties, addressed the commission. He thanked the IHRC for providing an aggressive timeline to expedite the process of transferring ownership to his clients.
The next item on the agenda was consideration of a petition by Centaur, LLC for transfer of some shares of ownership. Included in the information available for those in attendance was further information about each of the parties wishing to acquire shares in Centaur. The commission approved the petition, pending a clean record found for each party when the findings from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are returned.
Consideration of a request by Wheeler Training Center (WTC), located on Bordon, Indiana, to be approved for Thoroughbred published workouts and gate approvals was also on the agenda. The IHRC Executive Director, Joe Gorajec, indicated the commission has no formal process for licensing training centers within the state. He further stated that Thoroughbred horsemen in Southern Indiana currently had to travel to one of the Indiana racetracks or similar venues in Kentucky to obtain the required number and/or type of published workouts and any gate approval, prior to being entered in a race in the state of Indiana. Thus, licensing the facility would make this task much easier on those involved in the industry from the surrounding area. Gorajec further stated that he and Deena Pitman had made a visit to the WTC last fall. He gave rave reviews of the facility. Gorajec stated, “I enthusiastically recommend to the IHRC that they approve the request.” The supplied information included the conditions which the WTC must follow for the commission to approve the request. It covers items like having a clocker and starter who are licensed by the IHRC, documents to be furnished about any workouts, etc. The commission voted to approve the WTC for the limited use of obtaining published workouts.
Next on the agenda was approval of each of the three Breed Development programs for 2007, in addition to the same for the Standardbred Advisory Board. Shirley Tresner, President of the Quarter Horse Breed Development Committee, presented her breed’s program. Jessica Barnes presented both programs for the Standardbreds. Finally, Jacki Brown presented the Thoroughbred Program. Within each presentation, the commission asked questions about goals, purpose, and any changes from the previous year’s program. All three programs were unanimously approved by the commission.
The final item on the agenda was an update on the IHRC horseman’s survey. Chairman McNaught reported an unusually high number of surveys being returned. She had spoken with the polling service to get a status on the survey. At that time, she discovered the results of the survey are taking longer to compile due to the unexpected high rate of reply. Normally, surveys expect to get around a 10% rate of return. On the other hand, the IHRC survey has had approximately a 35% rate of return. Ms. McNaught was pleased to see so many in the industry had taken the time to return the surveys. She added that she hopes to have a report available within the next 30 days. The results will be available on the IHRC Web site, as well as at the next IHRC meeting.
With no further Old Business pending, and no New Business to consider, the meeting was adjourned.
The next meeting date was set for Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at 9:00 a.m.