Harness Horsemen International’s annual meetings got underway on Monday (March 7) at the Embassy Suites Deerfield Beach Resort & Spa, Deerfield Beach, Fla.

Tom Luchento, HHI president, opened the general session with welcoming remarks to the group's members from the United States and Canadian harness racing associations.

American Horse Council President Jay Hickey also spoke, followed by HHI association reports and a lengthy and lively discourse concerning current harness racing commission issues and concerns.

Keynote speaker Dr. Mary Robinson of the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center, Chester, Pa., will speak Tuesday morning, beginning at 9 a.m., on medication issues, along with the USTA’s Executive Vice President Mike Tanner, followed by HHI meetings and discussions that include insurance, finance, legal, convention and scholarship.

On Wednesday, the general session begins at 9 a.m. with featured speaker Joe Pennacchio, president and executive director of Florida’s SBOA, discussing the issue of ‘de-coupling’ that has plagued the Sunshine State’s harness horsemen for the past month.

The HHI annual awards luncheon will follow at 12:30 p.m., honouring USTA Executive Vice President Mike Tanner, PHHA’s retiring executive director Ron Battoni and Harness Racing Communications' Ken Weingartner with HHI’s top awards.

The HHI annual meetings will conclude with a farewell breakfast on Thursday.

HHI is comprised of horsemen’s associations from the United States and Canada who collectively represent the agriculture based industry of harness racing in North America. HHI’s governing body consists of representatives from its member associations.

(HHI)