It’s now September, and the whole game of buying yearlings starts all over again. I own a very small piece of three two-year-olds and it doesn’t seem like long ago that I was getting the winter training reports. The yearling game is not for the faint of heart, but it’s still the best chance we have to dream of hitting the home run. I hope I’m able to stay in the game for a long time to come and continue to have that chance. (How did the three two-year-olds do for me, you ask? Two made the races, but both got sick -- we are still dreaming of bringing in some money this fall to start the process over!)
There was a full and productive Board meeting in July. The Board approved a more streamlined and manageable Strategic Plan, which is posted on the SC webpage if you are interested in taking a look. The Board also approved the role of a new Governance Committee to be made up of SC Directors. A plan to eliminate some existing Committees (O’Brien/Cam Fella, Stakes, Nominating, Active, and Racetrack) was approved and the duties of those Committees will be taken over by the management staff of SC. What does this mean to the members? A fully engaged Board that meets four times a year (conference calls or face-to-face), an enhanced trust in management, and hopefully a buy-in from the Directors on the idea to become more of a national leader.
The Racing Development and Sustainability Plan was recently announced, and I am happy to see it is creating so many opinions -- both for and against the concept! There are many details to be ironed out, and many questions to answer... but at least someone is doing something! I even have some of my own questions. How is the ORC going to determine if the industry supports this? Is 5% the right number? Is the Steering Committee made up of the right people? As you know, I have been preaching for the past two years (and some disagree, I’m sure), that SC could try and facilitate some of this original thinking. What about some other ideas? A circuit between Alberta and British Columbia? A Western Canada Sires Stake program? A true Canadian-sired championship race? Let’s start thinking! Who would have thought the Meadowlands might close?!
Since my last column, we have had a couple of firsts to report; Ryan Breadner recorded his first career driving win at Hanover Raceway, and third generation horseman, Lee Ibey, nailed his first training win at Alberta Downs with a horse he owns, Bandit On The Run. Lee’s grandfather was a standardbred judge years ago and his father, Chuck, has been a prominent breeder in Alberta and a long time SC Director (turn to page 22 to see Lee featured in this month’s Coast to Coast column).
Congratulations go out as well to Bill Davis on achieving training win number 3,000!
Just another reminder about this year being an election year for all SC Directors. If you are interested and feel you would like to take an active role, please visit the SC webpage for more details.
Finally, on behalf of the Board of Directors and the staff of Standardbred Canada I would like to wish Director Chuck Keeling (Fraser Downs) all the best, as he has decided to leave the industry and pursue other interests. On a personal note, I would like to thank Chuck and express how much I have really enjoyed working for him the past couple of years. I wish him all the best.
Until next month!!!
A monthly newsletter from Standardbred Canada’s Chair of the Board of Directors.