June 5, 2010 - FQHRA General Meeting Minutes
Jun 17th, 10
Meeting covers Hialeah Champions, Florida Bred Winners and future racing in Florida.
Florida Quarter Horse Racing Association, Inc.
Meeting Minutes
June 5, 2010
I. Call to order
Steve Fisch - President called the meeting to order at 12:05pm. The general membership meeting was held at the AVS
Equine Medical & Surgical Hospital in Tallahassee, FL.
Steve Fisch - President called the meeting to order at 12:05pm. The general membership meeting was held at the AVS
Equine Medical & Surgical Hospital in Tallahassee, FL.
II. Board Attendees:
Steve Fisch - President
Bill McKibbin - Vice President
Will Fisch - Treasurer
Joe Carter - Board Member
Larry Taylor - Board Member
Dan Lucas - Board Member
III. Officer Reports:
The Secretary, Patricia Frering, was unable to attend. The minutes from the previous meeting were waived but are available on the FQHRA website. Toni Czaja, FQHRA Office Manager, was asked to serve as the acting Secretary.
The Secretary, Patricia Frering, was unable to attend. The minutes from the previous meeting were waived but are available on the FQHRA website. Toni Czaja, FQHRA Office Manager, was asked to serve as the acting Secretary.
IV. New business
a) Will Fisch – Treasurer: Treasurer Report
The 2010 Stallion Service Auction was a huge success as a result of exceptional work by Bill McKibbin and Randy Henry. There were 127 listed Stallions of which 76 were sold (60 % rate) for a total revenue of $70,000.
The financials will be posted on our website. For the year ended Dec. 31, 2009 our total net income was $142,000. This was due to a large part of the Hialeah Contract Fee having been paid in advance, but the actual expenses not being paid until 2010. For the first five months of 2010 our total net income was $69,000 and primarily the result of the 2010 Stallion Service Auction.
During this period we received $93,000 in revenue which included a $20,000 grant from the AQHA. We received the balance of our fees from Hialeah (69,000) along with some membership fees and Florida Bred Registration fees. Our expenses totaled $112,000 which included the $40,000 Florida Bred Awards, Legal fees of $ 16,000 to recover the balance of monies owed by the Hialeah Track owners, as well as lobbying and consulting fees of $20,000. There were also payroll costs of $ 15,000 and advertising cost of $ 3,500.
As of June 3, 2010 we have cash in excess of debts of approximately $230,000.
a) Will Fisch – Treasurer: Treasurer Report
The 2010 Stallion Service Auction was a huge success as a result of exceptional work by Bill McKibbin and Randy Henry. There were 127 listed Stallions of which 76 were sold (60 % rate) for a total revenue of $70,000.
The financials will be posted on our website. For the year ended Dec. 31, 2009 our total net income was $142,000. This was due to a large part of the Hialeah Contract Fee having been paid in advance, but the actual expenses not being paid until 2010. For the first five months of 2010 our total net income was $69,000 and primarily the result of the 2010 Stallion Service Auction.
During this period we received $93,000 in revenue which included a $20,000 grant from the AQHA. We received the balance of our fees from Hialeah (69,000) along with some membership fees and Florida Bred Registration fees. Our expenses totaled $112,000 which included the $40,000 Florida Bred Awards, Legal fees of $ 16,000 to recover the balance of monies owed by the Hialeah Track owners, as well as lobbying and consulting fees of $20,000. There were also payroll costs of $ 15,000 and advertising cost of $ 3,500.
As of June 3, 2010 we have cash in excess of debts of approximately $230,000.
V. Old Business
a) No old business was brought before the meeting.
a) No old business was brought before the meeting.
VI. New Business
a) Steve Fisch recognized the Florida Bred Winners:
a) Steve Fisch recognized the Florida Bred Winners:
1st Joe Carter
2nd Gerald Keesling
3rd Debro Gotovac
4th Flying Fisch Farm
5th Victory Quest Farm"
6th Donald Ming
7th Willie Spears
8th James Dawson
9th Tommy Manucy
10th Sarah Owens
11th Jacqueline Baker"
12th Wayne & Tonya Griffin
13th Jimmy Bowen
Champion Owner/Breeder: Joe Carter
Champion Stallion: Cowboys Rodeo (Joe Carter)
Champion Colt: JDC Rebel Yeller (Joe Carter)
Champion Filly: JDC Cowboys Dream (Joe Carter)
Champion Gelding: Jess Fischin (Flying Fisch Farm)
The program details are posted on our website. Only 19 qualified Florida Bred horses competed in the meet. In future meets the number of Florida Breds racing will determine the amount of the awards. It is in our members’ best interest to qualify your foals shortly after birth. Joe Carter received the largest check which was for $21,152. This is a good example of how much the rewards can be for a small investment.
2nd Gerald Keesling
3rd Debro Gotovac
4th Flying Fisch Farm
5th Victory Quest Farm"
6th Donald Ming
7th Willie Spears
8th James Dawson
9th Tommy Manucy
10th Sarah Owens
11th Jacqueline Baker"
12th Wayne & Tonya Griffin
13th Jimmy Bowen
Champion Owner/Breeder: Joe Carter
Champion Stallion: Cowboys Rodeo (Joe Carter)
Champion Colt: JDC Rebel Yeller (Joe Carter)
Champion Filly: JDC Cowboys Dream (Joe Carter)
Champion Gelding: Jess Fischin (Flying Fisch Farm)
The program details are posted on our website. Only 19 qualified Florida Bred horses competed in the meet. In future meets the number of Florida Breds racing will determine the amount of the awards. It is in our members’ best interest to qualify your foals shortly after birth. Joe Carter received the largest check which was for $21,152. This is a good example of how much the rewards can be for a small investment.
2007 Colt: Sophisticated Snow (Zeferino Garcia)
2007 Gelding: Shakem Blue (Dan Urshel)
2007 Filly: Brimful (Debra Gotovac)
2007 Champion: Sophisticated Snow (Zeferino Garcia)
2006 Colt: Vertical Vision (Blurred Vision Partnership)
2006 Gelding: Royal Quick Rebel (Jose C. Angel)
2006 Mare: Little Surfer (Lucas Racing, Inc.)
2006 Champion: Little Surfer (Lucas Racing, Inc.)
Aged Stallion: MBN Finest Hour (Southern Rose Ranch)
Aged Gelding: Vital Winner (Debra Gotovac)
Aged Mare: Wowzer Won (Kathleen O. Matey
Aged Champion: Wowzer Won (Kathleen O. Matey)
Distance Champion: Vital Winner (Debra Gotovac)
Iron Horse: Toast To Bajr (Chester Kight)
Horse of the Meet: Wowzer Won (Kathleen O. Matey)
Champion Jockey: Thomas Byrd
Champion Trainer: Donnie Strickland
Champion Owner (by wins): H. Armando Orozco
Champion Owner (by $ won): Debra Gotovac
Iron Horse: Toast To Bajr (Chester Kight)
Horse of the Meet: Wowzer Won (Kathleen O. Matey)
Champion Jockey: Thomas Byrd
Champion Trainer: Donnie Strickland
Champion Owner (by wins): H. Armando Orozco
Champion Owner (by $ won): Debra Gotovac
c)
Because of the Seminole Compact we did not get all that we wanted but more than what we had. If we can sustain
the progress we showed at the Hialeah meet, it will strengthen our ability to accomplish more with the legislators
in the future. They are looking not only for tax income from the races, but an economic impact on our
communities. We expect a significant number of QH farms to come to Florida. It is an ideal place to have your
operations.
He and Steve Fisch meet regularly with permitted track owners and have open line of communication with
He and Steve Fisch meet regularly with permitted track owners and have open line of communication with
Richard Hancock the director of the thoroughbred organization.
Dr. Fisch reported on the past legislative session. The state tax on slot machines was reduced from 50% to 35%,
helping the tracks to offer players a higher payout. Tracks that already qualify for slot machines are Hialeah,
Pompano, and Gulfstream.
Marion County, Ocala, and Gadsden can have 350 instant race machines which have a low 4% tax rate. However,
they must get legislative approval during the next session. At this time that does not seem a problem.
The legislation requires the tracks to run 20 days the first year, followed by 30, 30, 40 race days in the following
years. This allows the track owners to build a quarter horse racing fan base which will provide for larger race
purses.
A discussion period was held regarding the negotiations with the Hialeah track. This discussion included the
legislative act stating that the FQHRA or a group that represents the majority of horsemen will be the group that
track owners have to have an agreement with.
The Pari-Mutual Gaming agency has stated that since the legislature specifically named the FQHRA as the
horsemen agent, any other group would have to have substantial evidence why they, instead of FQHRA, should
represent the horsemen. That it would not be based on number of members.
Dr. Fisch then had an open question and answer period regarding QH racing in Florida, present and future. The
greatest concern was about having only 22 days of racing at Hialeah for the 2010-11 meet. Dr. Fisch explained the
law only required 20 days, and the track had control of how many, if any over 20 were run, and the days of the
meet. Negotiations with Hialeah have not started and FQHRA will always work in the best interest of the
horsemen. We will take into consideration all of your comments and work toward that end.
As soon as we have a deal it will be presented to the Board of Directors for their final approval.
The 2011 Stallion Service Auction work starts July 1, Bill McKibbin and Randy Henry have agreed to head up the
effort to repeat the 2010 successful campaign A question was asked regarding the SSA stallion stakes. A stallion
stakes race will be part of the coming Hialeah meet. A question was asked about a Florida Bred sale. We just don’t
have enough qualified horses to have such a sale at this time. Hopefully we will in a couple of years.
VII. Adjournment:
A motion for adjournment was made, seconded, and passed. The meeting was adjourned by President Fisch at
1:51 pm.
Minutes submitted by: Toni A. Czaja
Minutes approved by: Stephen D. Fisch, DVM - President