The Standardbred Breeders Association of Pennsylvania recently elected new officers and added two new members to its Board of Directors
. The new line-up for the coming year includes the following: Joe M. Thomson of Winbak Farm as president; Dr. John M. Egloff of Vieux Carre Farm as vice president; and Dr. Paul F. Spears of Windsong Stable and Hanover Shoe Farms as secretary/treasurer.
Thomson is the founder and owner of Winbak Farm, the standardbred breeding industry's largest single family owned and operated breeding farm. Winbak specializes in standing, breeding, raising and selling some of the best standardbred horses in the industry. Winbak Farm is located on more than 2,000 acres of lush farmland. In the last 10 years, Winbak bred, raised and sold three Horse of the Year champions (No Pan Intended, Rainbow Blue and Muscle Hill). Winbak is also the breeder for Hambletonian winners Vivid Photo and Muscle Hill. This past year, Winbak bred the Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt of the Year in the United States, Roll With Joe.
Thomson is an honouree of the Little Brown Jug Wall of Fame, a trustee of Transylvania University, a trustee and director of the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame and a director of the Hambletonian Society.
"For Joe to take the helm makes perfect sense for SBAP," said former SBAP President David Prushnok, of Andray Farms. "Not only is he one of the largest standardbred breeders in North America, but he also operates a financial advising firm in Paoli, PA. Standardbred breeders focus on the market value of their harness horses, so having someone like Joe guide us through these uncertain times will be very advantageous,"
The two newest members to the SBAP Board of Directors are Adam Bowden of Diamond Creek Farm and David Meirs, III of Concord Stud Farm.
Bowden is the owner of Diamond Creek Farm located in Wellsville, PA. Diamond Creek Farm was founded in 2005 and has quickly rose to prominence in the standardbred industry, breeding such top stakes winners as Vertical Horizon and Big Rigs. In 2011, Bowden received the U.S. Harness Association's Lew Barasch Breakthrough Award for his outstanding work in the standardbred industry. Bowden was also an intern at Hanover Shoe Farms for two summers during his time as an undergraduate at the University of Southern Maine.
David Meirs, III, is the owner of Concord Stud Farm. He has expanded operations from New Jersey with high hopes of participating in the Pennsylvania horse racing industry. He recently purchased the former Kosmos Breeding Farm in Littlestown, PA and changed the name to the Concord Stud Farm of PA. Meirs' farm is offering foaling and care of standardbred mares with PA sired foals due this spring. Meirs has been running major standardbred breeding farms for over 35 years, averaging a 95 per cent conception rate each year.
New president Thomson plans to re-energize the board and the members with a number of value-based membership services and integrated communication outreach efforts. With his financial background, the members of SBAP will benefit from his approach and vision for a prosperous future.
(SBAP)