On Saturday, February 2, Standardbred Canada elected its Officers and Executive Committee for 2019.
Mark Horner of St. Marys, Ont. was elected as the Chair of Standardbred Canada. The longtime horseman, a second-generation horse owner, breeder, farm operator and trainer, has been connected with popular performers the likes of The Masters, Button Up and The Joy Luck Club. He will serve his first term as SC Chair, replacing Joanne Colville, after serving as a Standardbred Canada Director for the past three years.
"I would like to thank Joanne Colville for her commitment and direction of the Board of Directors for the past three years at SC," Horner told Trot Insider. "I am honoured to be elected as Chair and look forward to working with Joanne and all our directors across Canada to ensure that our strategic plan for the association remains intact and that we continue to be a member-focused organization going forward."
Mark Horner (centre) with Greg Blanchard and Trevor Henry at the 2018 Ontario Regional Driving Championship
Horner has also been involved in the SC Executive, Strategic Planning, Governance and Government Relations committees, serves on the Board of the Central Ontario Standardbred Association, participates in working groups for the harness racing industry and has been a vocal proponent for government support in the wake of Gateway Casino's decision to lease land for gaming expansion away from The Raceway at the Western Fair District.
The 2019 Executive Committee was also elected to serve a one-year term:
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Mark Horner (Chair of the Board)
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Jackson Wittup (Vice-Chair)
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Diane Bertrand (Chair of Breeders Committee)
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Joanne Colville (Past Chair)
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Ian Fleming (Executive Committee Member)
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Kent Oakes (Executive Committee Member)
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Ann Straatman (Executive Committee Member)