The process to elect new 2009 Board of Directors members for the Texas Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (THBPA) and the Texas Thoroughbred HBPA, Inc. (TTHBPA) has begun. Each of the two organizations that comprise the Texas Horsemen’s Partnership, LLP has different election procedures.

THBPA (Quarter Horse, Paint, and Appaloosa Board): The Texas Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association will hold its annual meeting for the purpose of accepting nominations for candidates to run for the upcoming elections for the 2009 Board of Directors. The meeting will take place in the Lone Star Park Chapel on Saturday, November 29, 2008 beginning at 11:00 a.m. The current board members with expiring terms are owners Ted Abrams and Manuel “Bebe” Gonzalez, Jr. and trainer Tooter Jordan.

All persons licensed by the Texas Racing Commission as owners or trainers of horses are eligible for membership in the THBPA. A person becomes a member of the THBPA by participating in a race meeting at any licensed racetrack in Texas within the last year.

Nominations will be accepted from any member in attendance with two other members seconding that nomination. Nominations by the nominating committee shall not require seconds.

Candidates will be selected to run for two (2) owner representatives and one (1) trainer representative available positions. The nominating committee shall neither make or accept any nomination after the adjournment of the general nominating meeting, except that for a period of fifteen (15) days thereafter, additional members may be nominated by petition duly signed by at least fifteen (15) members of the Association in good standing, provided that said petition is filed with the Secretary/Treasurer of the Association during said fifteen (15) day period.

If you have any questions, please contact Wanda O’Banan at the Retama Park HBPA track office at (210) 651-7004, or at the Austin office at (512) 467-9799. Tami Hare may be reached at the Lone Star Park HBPA track office at (972) 237-5064 thru Monday, December 1, 2008.

TTHBPA: The Texas Thoroughbred HBPA, Inc. is currently in the process of nominating members to run in the Thoroughbred 2009 Election for the Board of Directors. The current board members with expiring terms are owner William A. “Bill” Martin and trainer Randy Mayfield. Due to Carl Moore’s resignation, the board voted unanimously to fill the additional position for owner during the 2009 Election process.

Any ten (10) members, in good standing, of the TTHBPA may nominate an eligible member for consideration. In order to be considered eligible for candidacy, an individual must have started a minimum of two (2) Thoroughbred horses a minimum of five (5) times at a Texas racetrack as the owner or trainer of the horses in the past year and raced for at least six (6) months prior to being nominated or those individuals whom have raced in a partnership or other entity so long as the individual is reflected in Texas Racing Commission records as owning at least a five percent (5%) interest or more in the partnership or entity.

Ten (10) signatures of TTHBPA members, with their Texas Racing Commission license numbers listed by the signatures, must accompany all nominations.

Members will vote for two (2) owner representatives and one (1) trainer representative. Deadline for submitting nominations is Wednesday, December 17, 2008.

Ballots will be mailed no later than Friday, January 16, 2009 and returned no later than Friday, February 20, 2009 for counting by an independent accounting firm.

To ask questions, or to review nomination/election procedures established by our bylaws or to obtain a nominating form, please contact Wanda O’Banan at the Retama Park HBPA track office at (210) 651-7004, or at the Austin office at (512) 467-9799. Tami Hare may be reached at the Lone Star Park HBPA track office at (972) 237-5064 thru December 1, 2008.