by Kimberly A. Rinker, for Harness Horsemen International

Deerfield Beach, FL — Harness Horsemen International’s annual meetings continued with general sessions and a keynote speaker on Tuesday (March 3) at the Embassy Suites Deerfield Beach Resort & Spa, Deerfield Beach, Fla.

Dr. Mary Robinson of the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, Chester, Pa., presented “Equine Drug Testing in the 21st Century,” discussing many of the current methods used by most equine testing laboratories today and future applications currently in development.

“Today’s equipment is becoming so sophisticated you can identify a grain of salt in an Olympic sized swimming pool,” Dr. Robinson stated.

Later, members of American and Canadian associations met to debate HHI issues, including budget, dues, finance, legal, insurance, convention and scholarship. Membership then unanimously approved welcoming back the Indiana Standardberd Association to HHI.

Tom Cook, president of the Cloverleaf Standardbred Owners Association, made a motion that was adopted by the full body of delegates, suggesting that: “The Standardbred industry and its racing fans are negatively impacted by the current dispute between the Mid-Atlantic Co-op and the Monarch Group. HHI encourages both parties to work diligently to reach a settlement; recognizing the impact the current stalemate has on multiple parties, including the betting public.”

It was also agreed on by HHI membership that the 2016 meeting dates would be Feb. 28 through March 3 at this same location.

HHI elections and committee reports will highlight Wednesday’s (March 4) general session, starting at 9 a.m., followed by the awards luncheon at 12:30 p.m., during which harness racing’s Gene Oldford, Jerry Knappenberger and Derick Giwner will be feted with HHI’s top honors.

Oldford, an HHI past president, is the 2014 Dominic Frinzi Person of the Year; Knappenberger, former GM of the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association, will accept the 2014 HHI Appreciation Award; and Giwner, the Daily Racing Form’s harness racing editor and writer, is the 2014 Clyde Hirt Media Award winner.