The National HBPA's Wagering & Alternative Gaming (WAGI) Committee will host a forum entitled, "Working Successfully with High Volume Players." Co-moderated WAGI Committee Chairman & Ohio HBPA Executive Vice President Bob Reeves and Ohio HBPA Executive Director Dave Basler, the goal of this session is to give participants a clear understanding of the companies working with high volume players and teach them methods to increase handle from these companies by understanding the type of product they like to play. Panel speakers will include: Racing & Gaming Services (RGS) Vice President Rob Terry, AmWest Entertainment CEO Nelson Clemmons, and Xpressbet President Ron Luniewski.
The Legislative Affairs Committee will host a forum introducing National HBPA's new governmental affairs consultants, American Continental Group, and their vision of representing the interests of the National HBPA's horsemen and women in Washington, D.C. The forum will be moderated by committee co-chairs Robin Richard, Virginia HBPA President and National HBPA First Vice President, and Frank Petramalo, Virginia HBPA Executive Director and Legal Counsel. Manus Cooney, Brian Fitzgerald, and Shawn Smeallie will be representing American Continental Group.
There will be an immigration forum moderated by National HBPA President and Chairman Joe Santanna that will give updates on recent changes in H-2B Visa program and USCIS positions. Speakers will include Horseman Labor Solutions CEO Will Velie and National HBPA Immigration Advisor and Kentucky HBPA Hispanic Liaison Julio Rubio.
Iowa HBPA President Leroy Gessmann and Executive Director Jon Moss will present a forum entitled "Iowa - A Unique ADW Partnership." The forum will give details of a new ADW partnership in Iowa that includes the racetrack, the HBPA, and the state horse racing commission.
Finally, the National HBPA's Medication Committee will present a forum entitled, "The Scientific Case: Furosemide and the Prevention of Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage." The forum will explore the use of and science regarding Salix/Lasix from various perspectives. Speakers will include:
- Dr. Steven Barker, MS, Ph.D., Professor, Comparative Biomedical Sciences; Director, Analytical Systems Laboratory; Equine Medication Surveillance Laboratory and the Laboratory for Drug Residue Studies, State Chemist, Louisiana State Racing Commission
- Dr. Thomas Brokken, DVM, is the senior partner in Tiegland, Franklin & Brokken DVM’s P.A. which has 16 veterinarians on staff who cover all of the Florida Thoroughbred tracks as well as Delaware Park, Fair Hill Training Center and Saratoga Race Course. Dr. Brokken has been a practicing veterinarian for over 40 years, and is a past President of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP).
- Dr. Thomas Tobin, Professor, Dept of Veterinary Science, Gluck Equine Research Center and Graduate Center for Toxicology, University of Kentucky & National HBPA Veterinary Advisor
- Dr. Mark Dedomenico, is a preeminent heart surgeon who helped play a major role in developing the coronary bypass surgery, the Guided Flow Aortic Heart Valve and the Bionit Arterial Grafts that are used around the world. He is the founding member of Hope Heart Institute in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Dedomenico has been in the equine business for over 40 years, and is the owner of 2010 Eclipse Award-winning Three-Year Old Filly Blind Luck.
