Harness Horsemen International's (HHI) annual meetings will take place from Feb. 24-27, 2019 at the Embassy Suites Resort & Spa in Deerfield Beach, Fla., beginning with an opening reception at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday evening (Feb. 24).

HHI meetings begin Monday morning, Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. as HHI President Tom Luchento welcomes all associations from throughout North America to the General Session, which focuses on association reports and a panel discussion entitled “The Importance of Horsemen Association’s Lobbying.” Bob Reeber, Esq., a lobbyist for the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association (PHHA) and Rebecca Kidner, Esq., a Delaware Standardbred Owners Association (DSOA) lobbyist, are the panelists. As well, a discussion has been scheduled regarding the recent events in Ontario concerning an attempt by Ontario Racing to disband the Ontario Harness Horsemen’s Association (OHHA), who have represented Ontario-based horsemen for 50 years.

On Tuesday (Feb. 26) at 9 a.m., the featured speaker, Joe Asher, CEO of William Hill U.S.A., will enlighten HHI members on sports wagering, which — since the favourable Supreme Court ruling last spring — has emerged as a potential new revenue source for horsemen and is both a timely and relevant topic of discussion as many states are considering legalizing this new form of gaming.

As well, representatives from the American Horse Council and Mike Tanner, Executive Vice President of the United States Trotting Association (USTA), will speak Tuesday morning, followed by HHI Standing Committees: HHI Budget Committee; Dues & Finance Committee; Convention Committee; HHI Scholarship Foundation Committee; and the HHI Legal Committee, with a pending application for membership by the Nevada Standardbred Association.

Wednesday (Feb. 27) activities start at 9 a.m. and include a General Session, followed by HHI Elections and the HHI Awards Luncheon, honouring Salvatore DiMario as the Dominic Frinzi Person of the Year, Foiled Again with the HHI Appreciation Award, and Chris Gooden with the HHI’s Clyde Hirt Media Award.

(HHI)