On Thursday, May 19, the New Brunswick Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association announced that it is standing behind Horse Racing New Brunswick in regard to the current situation between HRNB and Fredericton Exhibition Ltd.

The NBSBOA is made up of and is representative of owners, breeders, drivers, groomers, farriers, and generally all those involved in the horse racing industry in the province.

Sam Hodgin – who is the president of the NBSBOA, as well as a farrier, horse owner and trainer – has stated that HRNB has a mandate to support the industry and work with regulators for the betterment of horse racing in the province. In a release by the NBSBOA – the contents of which appear below – Hodgin stated that the HRNB is not able to fulfill this mandate due to Fredericton Exhibition’s actions.

Earlier this week, the Fredericton Exhibition locked Horse Racing New Brunswick out of its office, citing numerous lease breaches. For more on the story, click here

The NBSBOA release appears below.

Horse owner and racing group throw support behind HRNB, decry Fredericton Exhibition’s tactics

The New Brunswick Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association is standing behind Horse Racing New Brunswick and calling on Fredericton Exhibition Ltd. to put an end to its aggressive motives.

The NBSBOA is made up of and is representative of owners, breeders, drivers, groomers, farriers, and generally all those involved in the horse racing industry in the province.

Sam Hodgin, President of the NBSBOA as well as a farrier, horse owner and trainer, says HRNB has a mandate to support the industry and work with regulators for the betterment of horse racing in New Brunswick. Due to Fredericton Exhibition’s actions Hodgin said that HRNB is not able to fulfill this mandate.

“HRNB has been working hard to help the horse racing industry here,” Hodgin said. “Now, because of the forceful actions from Fredericton Exhibition and its executive director Mike Vokey, many people and their families involved in horse racing have been put in jeopardy.”

“Horsemen are worried about their horses and their livelihoods,” Hodgin said. “Many of them fear for the safety of their animals still on the property.”

Hodgin also said that Vokey has been trying to strongarm his organization into meeting with him without following the procedures laid out in NBSBOA’s constitution. On Wednesday, May 18, he set up a meeting with the Fredericton Chapter of the NBSBOA for this evening, May 19, without respecting the procedures and the will that have always been respected and followed by both parties in the past.

“NBSBOA would be willing to sit down help find a solution to this situation,” Hodgin said. “But we need to have time to ensure all of our members have the proper notice and ability to attend and have their voices heard.”