Florida HBPA

The 2022 election for the board of the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) has concluded with trainer Joe Orseno slated to serve as interim president. He replaces Stephen Screnci, who did not run for reelection. Reelected to the board of directors are owner Adam Lazarus and trainers Orseno, Kathy Davey, and Terri Pompay. New to the board is owner David Rousso. Troy Levy and Ralph Nicks have stepped down. The remainder of the board consists of owners Chester Bishop, Thomas Cannell, and Teresa Palmer, as well as trainers...

The Florida HBPA held its annual General Nominating Meeting and Awards Dinner Saturday night at Gulfstream Park, with nearly 100 owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms and racing executives in attendance at Ten Palms. The guest speaker was the new President and CEO of the NTRA, Tom Rooney and the evening closed with the annual FHBPA Awards Ceremony. "Each year, the Florida HBPA recognizes the horses that shine not just during the Championship Meet, but year-round in South Florida," FHBPA President Stephen Screnci said. "All of our Champions competed at Gulfstream during...

Industry veteran Andy Belfiore, who has honed her skills on both the backside and on executive teams, has been named the new Executive Director of the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent & Protective Association (FHBPA). For the last two years, Belfiore has been the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association's Project Manager for the Mid-Atlantic Strategic Plan to Reduce Equine Fatalities. The Massachusetts native spent the four years prior to that as Executive Director of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association. "The FHBPA board members as well as myself are delighted that Andy accepted our...

Saturday's opening day at the meet rebranded as Gulfstream Park West will truly mark the beginning of an end. Barring an 11th hour reprieve from the courts, the 40-day season will be the last ever run at Calder Race Course, the meat-and-potatoes South Florida track that has been operating since 1971. Since 2014, the racing operation has been leased by Calder's owner, Churchill Downs Inc., to Gulfstream Park's owners, The Stronach Group, which renamed the track Gulfstream Park West. That lease expires at the end of the year and TSG...

The Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) has joined the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (TAA) as an industry stakeholder and has pledged its monthly financial support to aid accredited aftercare non-profits in the Sunshine State. "We take our responsibility seriously to provide care and the opportunity for a new life to our equine athletes who have concluded their racing careers," said Tom Cannell, treasurer of the Florida HBPA. "Partnering with TAA and their accredited reorganizations will provide us an opportunity to successfully achieve these mutually desired goals." Currently the TAA...