On Saturday, Dec. 11, the Standardbred Owners Association of New York (SOANY) held its 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 third quarter of 2022).

The major discussions during the Board of Directors meeting focused on the SOA’s 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 totalling $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 one-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)

(SOANY)