Page 14 - November 2015

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by Jennifer K. Hancock
AQHA PrevAils in Cloning lAwsuit
The American Quarter Horse cloning lawsuit has reached the end of the legal process and AQHA has prevailed. On October 26, 2015, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit entered an order denying the plaintiffs’ petition for rehearing of the opinion that rendered judgment for AQHA in the cloning lawsuit. Specifically, that opinion held that the plaintiffs’ evidence did not prove a conspiracy to restrain trade and that “AQHA is not a competitor in the allegedly relevant market for elite Quarter Horses.”
“We are delighted with this decision,” said Craig Huffhines, AQHA Executive Vice President. “Our staff and legal teams have devoted countless hours fighting for our members’ rights, and we’re grateful for the Fifth Circuit’s decision that leaves intact the well-reasoned opinion in AQHA’s favor.”
As a lifetime AQHA member, I can’t imagine how much association money and resources were wasted fighting this lawsuit through the court system and that’s not even taking into account the stress needlessly put on AQHA staff members and the time taken away from furthering AQHA goals.
Members of the American Quarter Horse Association are invited every year to submit rule changes to be addressed at the annual convention. The 2016 Convention will be March 11-14 at the South Point Casino & Spa in Las Vegas. During
the convention, member-submitted rule changes
and suggestions are also reviewed. The deadline to submit rule changes is December 31, 2015. If you believe there is a need for a major rule change, the Association is encouraging members to submit items earlier to give Association staff and/or committees and councils more time to prepare materials and com- municate potential changes before the convention.
You can find the rule-change proposal form at www.aqha.com/convention as well as other informa- tion about the 2016 convention.
The list of standing committees can be accessed through the AQHA Member Services area of aqha.com.
Completed forms can be returned via email to rulechanges@aqha.org or by mail at: AQHA ATTN: (Committee Name) P.O. Box 200 Amarillo, TX 79168.
idAHo governor resPonds to veto
Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter released an official statement regarding the future of the state’s horse racing industry in late October. Otter’s full response follows:
You might have heard recently about dozens of jobs being lost at horse racing venues in the Treasure Valley and eastern Idaho.
But you probably did not hear from the news media about the likely and unnecessary loss of many more related jobs and small businesses; several million dollars per year in state, county and city tax revenue; needed funding for public schools; a total of nine race tracks; and more than 60 days a year of live horse racing.
All this in the wake of the Idaho Supreme Court’s September decision to strike down my veto of legisla- tion outlawing Idaho’s historic horse racing opera- tions. But let’s go back a bit to how we got here.
In 2013, the Idaho Legislature enacted and I signed into law legislation permitting pari-mutuel historic horse racing terminals in Idaho. But last winter, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe — not wanting more competition for gambling dollars — sponsored a bill to repeal the 2013 law. It passed both the House and Senate and landed on my desk for final consideration.
Knowing the potential economic impact on Idaho’s traditional horse culture and popular horse racing operations, and not wanting to see their demise, I vetoed the repeal bill. The Idaho Senate then decided against overriding my veto.
Nonetheless, the Supreme Court found my action invalid. So be it.
This story isn’t about me. It’s about the devastating impact of that unfortunate decision, and all that led
up to it, on the lives of thousands of Idaho families. Horse trainers, jockeys, hay farmers, stable hands, restaurant operators, veterinarians, hotel/motel owners, horse breeders and trailer manufacturers are among the multitude of folks threatened by this reversal.
Simply stated, Idahoans involved with the horse industry have been treated unfairly. I’m not willing to let something so integral to our culture simply disappear. I’m not willing to turn my back on an industry with businesses, ranches and farms — and most importantly people — contributing hundreds
Send photos and news items to jennifer_k_hancock@hotmail.com.
The MonTh in review
12 SPEEDHORSE, November 2015
Track chaTTer