Harness Horsemen International, which participated in the 2013 Harness Racing Congress held at the Westin Resort & Spa, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 2 and 3, has announced a new Board of Directors for 2013.

Tom Luchento was elected as President, while Kim Hankins will serve as First Vice President. Tony Somone will serve as Second Vice President. Luchento is the President of the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey, and takes over the HHI helm from Gene Oldford, who had served as HHI President for the past five years.

Hankins serves as the Executive Director for the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association, while Somone represents the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association as that group’s Executive Director.

Sal DiMario, Delaware Standardbred Owners Association Executive Director, was elected HHI Secretary, while Mike Izzo, CFO of the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association, and was named Treasurer for 2013. Directors at Large include Jerry Knappenberger, General Manager for the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association; Gabe Prewitt, Executive Secretary of the Kentucky Harness Horsemen’s Association; Dr. Timothy Powers, President of the Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association; and Ron Battoni, Executive Vice President of the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen's Association.

HHI, organized in 1964, is comprised of horsemen’s associations and their representatives from the United States and Canada who collectively represent harness racing in North America.

(HHI)