Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA

The annual convention of Harness Horsemen International (HHI) wrapped up in Florida today with re-election of officers and district reports.

HHI President Dominic Frinzi & Larry Mallar (Michigan HHA), Appreciation Award Winner.

In voting among the regional representatives, a motion to join with the USTA and HTA at the Harness Congress in 2006 was approved with stipulations regarding financial concerns and particpation in all aspects of the meeting. HHI President Domenic Frinzi will confer with HTA Executive Vice President Stan Bergstein within the next ten days and move forward with those plans if all HHI concerns can be resolved.

At the HHI awards banquet on Sunday evening, accolades were given to Heather Vitale of the Delaware SBOA as Clyde Hirt Media Award winner, Larry Mallar, retiring general manager of the Michigan HHA for the Appreciation Award, Jim Ripoll of the Florida SBOA as the Good Guy Award as well as retiring USTA Executive Vice President and Man of the Year Fred Noe, who also received several opera recordings from Mr. Frinzi. Noe urged the HHI to continue to grow and to fill the important role they play for horsemen.

Dominic Frinzi & Heather Vitale, Clyde Hirt Media Award Winner.

Elections for officers were held today, with Domenic Frinzi returning as President, Gene Oldford, first vice president, Jerry Brittingham, second vice president, Mike Izzo, treasurer and Sal DiMario, secretary. Mike Izzo is filling the term of treasurer formerly held by the retiring Tom D’Altrui Sr. Elected to fill at large director seats are John Brennan (New York), Jack Kelly (Illinois), Jane Murray (Florida) and Jim Whelen (Ontario).

There was also a vote of confidence to support the HHI affiliates in Ontario and Illinois, where there have been efforts to start alternate groups to represent horsesmen. HHI will not recognize alternate groups.