Nominees For CTBA Directorship

Seven to contest five seats on the board.

Ballots for the 1999 election of directors of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association will be sent to members this month. Only members whose 2000 dues have been paid are eligible to vote. A brief biographical sketch of each candidate follows, along with a short statement from each of them regarding issues facing the CTBA and California's Thoroughbred industry.

Clydene Boots

Born in 1937, Clydene Boots was raised in rural Kansas. She received degrees in journalism and psychology from the University of Kansas and later one in clinical psychology. She worked in those areas, concluding with over 10 years in Los Angeles County juvenile facilities. She bought her first mare in 1974 in addition to 16 acres of raw land in Murrieta in 1977. She began building Westview Farm on her days off. She quit her job in 1980 to devote her full attention to developing a mare and foal boarding operation.

Boots earned her law degree in the 1980s by driving to Riverside three nights a week for four years and was admitted to the bar but never practiced as she preferred farm life. She currently owns five producing broodmares and keeps several for clients. She breeds to sell, does not own or stand stallions, and does most of the farm work at Westview herself.

"I have been active in the California Thoroughbred Farm Managers Association for many years, and I am completing my third year as president. I would especially represent the smaller mare owner who is attempting to breed quality racehorses on a limited budget. Breeding and raising racehorses is what I do for a living, which makes for a spartan lifestyle but provides a strong incentive to breed good runners.

My focus would be on education and communication. It is essential that CTBA communicate frankly and effectively with its members, and we need to maintain good working relationships with other industry groups.
CTBA must be flexible and forward-thinking…capable of quickly analyzing, adapting to, and benefiting from the many changes that will be occurring within the industry."


Jeanne Canty

Jeanne Canty has been a member of the CTBA since 1967 and has served on the board of directors since 1988. She has been chairperson of numerous fundraisers and has served as chairperson of the legislative committee and is a former secretary of the board. Jeanne has bred and raced such stakes winners as Merry Madeleine, Kelly's Caper, Caline, Terry's Caper and La Mimosa. Her late husband, trainer John Canty, campaigned California-bred stakes winners Unconscious, Royal Owl, Time to Leave, and others. Jeanne is also a trustee of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Foundation, and a member of the CTBA's sales committee.

"Our industry needs to unite our efforts to attract new breeders, owners, and fans through education, promotion and proper legislation. The CTBA's educational seminars, presented in cooperation with the Oak Tree Racing association are efforts we can take great pride in. These seminars have been the only presentations of their kind in our state to help new participants be more knowledgeable and successful in racing and breeding Thoroughbreds in our state.

We have the best incentive program in the country through the diligent work of the CTBA Board, and we should be very proud of such an accomplishment. We must constantly strive to ensure that this program is protected so that breeders will continue to receive maximum incentives to enable them to keep breeding higher quality Cal-breds.

I have been involved in the world of Thoroughbreds for the past 30 years as the wife of a trainer plus as a breeder, an owner, and a sales agent. I will continue to work to help ensure the ongoing success of the California Thoroughbred industry."


Keith Card

Keith Card has been around and/or owned horses most of his life, first with Quarter Horses and then with Thoroughbreds, since 1964. He and his wife, Barbara, have five children and eight grandchildren and they operate HiCard Ranch in Murrieta. A member of the CTBA for 30 years, Card has bred and raced 1990 Cal Cup Distaff winner Linda Card and also bred 1991 Cal Cup Mile winner Shirkee. Card is also a founder and past president of the board of directors of the Las Tortugas Riding Organization.

"Times move too fast and it is hard to believe its been three years since I was re-elected to serve on the Board of CTBA. So much has been accomplished but there is much more to do to make our CTBA a heavy arm of the horse industry.

I seek your vote so I can continue the drive forward. The entire industry is finally starting to work together and it is my goal to further this attitude. United we stand, divided we fall.

It is my opinion that we need to look to our younger generation as the basis for the growth of horse racing interest. In order to attract them, we need to change our manner of advertising to appeal to those 30-year-olds and their children.

My interest in Thoroughbred horses began in 1964 after a lifetime of other breeds and a short period of owning and training quarter horses. My love continues. As an owner of a broodmare farm, I try to breed to the top California stallions and wish I could afford to go to General Meeting! My goal is to keep the top fillies, race them, and upgrade my broodmare band. I sell most of my colts.

It is my belief that I can bring to the Board a broad range of knowledge. Not only in the equine industry but in the economic field and administration of our association.

I think I have been able to make a difference. I have served on the Board as Secretary for two years, Treasurer for one year, and have been chairman of the racing committee and on the sale committee for two years. Thank you for your vote."


Eddie Gregson

Eddie Gregson has been a member of the CTBA since 1987 and elected to the board of directors in 1994. An owner, breeder and trainer, he saddled Gato Del Sol to win the 1982 Kentucky Derby. Currently, he is president of the California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT) and serves as chairman of the CTBA's sales committee. Eddie and his wife, Gail, make their home in Pasadena.

"The California breeding industry is enjoying unprecedented prosperity both in the performance of its progeny and bottom-line economics of its auction sales. The reason is simple, we are breeding better horses and managing our stables in a more realistic and productive manner.

Enlightened breeders are structuring a balanced plan of racing some (ideally fillies) and selling selective stock which, in turn, helps subsidize those nasty training bills.

As an owner, trainer, breeder, I, along with all of you, have wrestled with the decision of keeping a nice one or selling it at Del Mar. But, consider the fact that the crystal ball forecasting the future of bloodstock is always cloudy. By practicing a management principal that is a creative balance of selling and racing, we not only make our accountant happy, but contribute to an active and varied market where the best are both raced and sold.

None of us are getting rich in this business, but I haven't found anything that is as much fun."


John Harris

John Harris, who was president of the CTBA from 1989-1991, as well as president in his second term, has been a member of the association since 1977. He has been very active on the legislative front, serving several terms as legislative committee chairman. Owner of Harris Farms Inc. and its sprawling horse division in Coalinga, Harris was recently honored by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association (TOBA) as California's breeder of the year for 1998. He was also honored as California Livestock Man of the Year in 1998. Some of the leading runners bred and raced by Harris include Soviet Problem, Work the Crowd, and Teresa Mc.

"I have been on the CTBA Board for many years, but I still feel energized and challenged in addressing the needs of the California Thoroughbred breeding industry, and would like to continue to help.

I am particularly interested in the ongoing necessity of CTBA presence in the legislative arena. I have been heavily involved in this aspect of our organization and feel that we have done a good job in maintaining our existing incentive programs, and in getting a fair share of new money generated. It is important that breeders are active politically as the Legislature and the Racing Board has much control over our fate.

One goal I would like to particularly work on in the coming year is account wagering. I feel that home betting, combined with good television coverage of racing will generate a wider fan and wagering base. We desperately need to get more people involved in our sport and business. Account wagering needs to be legislated in California for an equitable amount of the proceeds to stay in California. I plan to work hard in getting this legislation passed and signed by the governor. This may be a tough one thing to do, as Governor Gray Davis vetoed virtually all of the racing legislation that passed in 1999, but with everyone's help we can get it done.

Other areas that I feel CTBA needs to be dedicated to are the continuing education of our breeders. Our seminars need to continue and be enhanced, and our magazine and internet presence should be key ingredients in insuring that our membership has good resources available to enable them to raise the best horses possible."

If anyone would like my position on any particular issues, feel free to e-mail me at johnharris@harrisfarms.com. I also will post my thoughts on different matters on our website at www.harrisfarms.com."

Gilbert Huey

Gilbert Huey has had an interest in California Thoroughbred racing for 30 years. He has been an active owner and breeder of Thoroughbreds since 1993. Currently he owns over 20 Thoroughbred horses, including seven broodmares.

Huey is presently the CEO of Merdan Group, Inc., a firm internationally recognized for its information security services. He earned an MS degree from Purdue University and a BA degree from the University of Detroit. Huey has served as the co-chairman of the San Diego Mayor's Privacy, Security and Intellectual Property Task Force Committee, and other professional organizations. He has been actively involved in church activities, including teaching, administration, and counseling ministries.

"These are dynamic times for the Thoroughbred industry in California. In fact, the whole industry is in transition. In such times it is important that the CTBA provide the expertise, innovation, and leadership necessary for its members to grow and prosper.

I bring to the CTBA over 35 years experience in organizational and technical problem-solving skills necessary to develop and expand an organization. I bring an avid interest and considerable knowledge of the Thoroughbred industry, along with the commitment to serve-an essential ingredient of leadership.

I believe that for the CTBA to be more effective, it must be accountable to all its members. To accomplish this, its program goals, budgets, etc., must be formulated in measurable terms and communicated to the members, along with regular progress reports via the organization's publications.

Every member has a contribution that can be made to the CTBA. To promote this, we must create a broad forum of idea exchange. Modern communication and modern technology makes this feasible. This forum will facilitate accountability and enhance the development of the organization's programs and plans.

We should enjoy our work-I enjoy mine-particularly the Thoroughbred breeding business. I have been inspired by the dedication and work ethic of those I have encountered in the Thoroughbred industry. I look forward to serving you on the Board if I am elected."


Garvan Kelly

Garvan Kelly served on the CTBA Board in 1996-1997. He is a commercial breeder owning 18 Thoroughbred broodmares and an equal number of Quarter Horse broodmares in addition to the stallion, Paranoide, currently standing at Harris Farms.

Owner of E.I.R.E. Stock Farm, a private broodmare and yearling facility in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, he breeds half of his Thoroughbred mares each year in California and half in Kentucky, alternating each year while foaling out all mares in California. He is in the process of acquiring horse property in Menifee Valley for future development of a small California-based broodmare facility.

"In 1996-1997 I served on the Board during a time of great change in the California equine industry. During my tenure I was pro-active on the Del Mar Sales Committee and the year-round promotion of California-breds at a time when Cal-breds were acquiring renewed recognition, not alone legislatively but also from their performance on the track, enhanced by the rewards of the Cal-bred Incentive Program.

Over the past few years as a commercial breeder, we have made substantial investments in Kentucky broodmares in foal to promising young stallions, foaled the mares in California for better Cal-breds and bred back to California stallions. We have benefited from those investments, primarily at Del Mar and will continue to re-invest as long as there is a strong CTBA representing the interests of the California breeder and promoting expansion of incentive programs for those people who endure the most hardship in providing the raw materials for the benefit of this industry, namely the breeders.

If chosen to serve on the Board, my agenda would be as follows:

1. Continue striving to raise the standards at Del Mar. It is noteworthy that some of the prominent breeders who also race prominently have been forced by a tougher inspection process to enter some of their better horses. However, they still need encouragement and persuasion to enter their "A " horses. There is no reason why Del Mar cannot aspire to sell million dollar horses in view of the terrific incentive programs existing for Cal-breds if and when the top California breeders produce their top yearlings at Del Mar.
2. Increase the value of Cal-bred programs at the racetrack.
3. Support CTBA education programs.
4. Expand the promotion of Cal-breds nationwide.
5. Open communication from the boardroom to the membership.
6. Promote the expansion of the CTBA board to be more inclusive of various elements of the California equine industry.

We would appreciate the opportunity to rejoin a team that has accomplished much over the past few years as an optimistic California breeder who will not be timid in addressing the breeder issues."