On Saturday, December 11, the Standardbred Owners Association of New York held their Board of Trustees and Board of Directors meetings.
The major discussions during the Board of Trustees meeting were the $2.7 million in retirement payments being made to eligible drivers, trainers and grooms for the 2018, 2019 and 2020 racing seasons as part of its launch of an enhanced retirement program, and the payments being made to participants under the prior retirement program, which is subject to review and approval by the federal government (currently expected to be completed in the 3rd quarter of 2022).
The major discussions during the Board of Directors meeting focused on the SOAās legislative and administrative priorities for 2022, issues regarding the recently executed contract with the track, the purse account and approval of our 2022 Scholarship, where we will now provide scholarships a totaling $18,000, up from $10,000.
At the Board of Directors meeting, it was announced that the following, all incumbent Directors, were re-elected without opposition:
Irv Atherton (Owner category) Michael Kimelman (Owner category) Peter Kleinhans (Owner category) Charles Longo (Owner category) Peter Venaglia (Owner category)
The following Officers were elected to serve for 1-year terms:
Joseph A. Faraldo, President and Executive Committee member Peter Venaglia, 1st Vice President, and Executive Committee member Irv Atherton, 2nd Vice President, Treasurer and Executive Committee member Chris Wittstruck, 3rd Vice President Peter Younger, Secretary
The following Executive Committee were elected for 2022: Joseph Faraldo Peter Venaglia Irv Atherton Jordan Stratton
The following Trustees of the Retirement and Welfare Funds were elected for 2022: Peter Venaglia (Chairman) Joseph A. Faraldo Irv Atherton Chris Wittstruck Peter Younger Jordan Stratton (1st Alternate) Ray Schnittker (2nd Alternate) Tom Ceraso (3rd Alternate)
From the Standardbred Owners Association of New York