The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority has appointed four new members to its Horsemen’s Advisory Board, including Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher, HISA said on Monday.
Pletcher was appointed along with Craig Bandoroff, a leading consignor though his Denali Stud; Jonathan Green, the owner of D.J. Stable, a racing and breeding operation; and Michael Levinson, the racing manager and parti-owner of L&N Racing.
The four appointees will replace trainesr Mark Casse and Tom Drury Jr.; former Breeders’ Cup Chairman Fred Hertrich III; and bloodstock advisor David Ingordo. The terms of all four had expired.
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HISA formed the Horsemen’s Advisory Board two years ago after criticism from some quarters that the organization was leaving horsemen out of their policy-making discussions. The board currently has 18 current members.
HISA also said that Linda Gaudet, vice president of the Maryland Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, and Tom Robbins, the executive vice president of racing and industry relations at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, were leaving the board after their terms expired. Gaudet was the representative for backstretch workers, while Robbins was the representative for racing office personnel.
A HISA spokesperson said that the organization “felt the group was too large and we are intentionally reducing the size” and that the seats held by Gaudet and Robbins would not be filled with new appointments.
“There isn’t a specified number of group members we look for, we just look to have a fresh diversity of points of view to make sure we’re making HISA’s programs as well rounded and effective as possible,” the spokesperson said.
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