At the annual Jockey Club of Canada meeting of the Members held on Saturday, June 23, 2012, at Woodbine Race Track in Toronto, Ontario, three new Stewards and eight new Members were appointed to The Jockey Club of Canada.
The Jockey Club of Canada is honoured to appoint Mark Casse, Charles Overland and Paul Ryneveld to the Board of Stewards for 2012 replacing Stewards Sue Leslie, Ross McKague and Gordon Wilson. The Jockey Club of Canada and the thoroughbred racing and breeding industry are most appreciative of the dedicated service of the retiring Stewards.
Mark Casse is a multiple Sovereign Award winning trainer based at Woodbine.
The son of successful breeder, Norman Casse, Mark immersed himself in the thoroughbred industry at the age of 12, officially becoming a trainer at age 17. He won his first race in 1979 at Great Barrington Fair with Solid Rocket, the first horse he ever ran, and in fact won with his first five starters. He has since amassed more than 1400 wins with purses totaling more than $66 million. Mark has earned the leading trainer title at Woodbine four times, and also has claimed five training titles in Kentucky, four at Turfway Park and one at Churchill Downs. He is the trainer of Canadian Triple Tiara Champion and Horse of the Year, Sealy Hill, as well as Champions Exciting Story, Marchfield and many others. Mark also currently sits on the Board of the HBPA of Ontario and the Board of the Ocala Breeders Sale.
Charles K. Overland Q.C. is now retired after practicing law as a partner in Davies, Ward & Beck (now Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP). Charles was instrumental in the formation of thoroughbred racing syndicates under the Overheath Stable name and has introduced close to 100 new owners to thoroughbred racing in the past 40 years of operation. One of the stable’s many syndicate stars included Queen’s Plate runner, Festive Knight, whose quest for the Queen’s Plate trophy was televised nationally by the CBC in the Sovereign Award winning documentary, Maiden Dreams. Charles also served for several years as a member of the former Thoroughbred Industry Appeal Board.
Paul Ryneveld is the Director of Racing, Operations at Hastings Racecourse, joining the Hastings team in December of 2008. A graduate of the Racetrack Industry Program at the University of Arizona, Paul has worked in the racing industry in North America since 1987. Paul is cautiously optimistic about the progress in British Columbia with the resurgence of live attendance and handle at Hastings Racecourse, believing a compelling product, embracing technology and utilizing social media are all positive factors leading to growth in BC. In addition to the Jockey Club of Canada, Paul serves as an Alternate Director for the Thoroughbred Racing Association and as an alternate on the Teletheatre BC Board.
The three new Stewards will join Chief Steward, James Lawson, Jeff Begg, Frank Di Giulio, Nick Eaves, Geordie Hendrie, Robert Krembil, John Unger, and Harvey Warner, on the Board of Stewards until the Annual Meeting in 2013.
Continuing with the Jockey Club of Canada’s new initiative to include new members who are passionate and dedicated to thoroughbred racing in Canada, eight new members were appointed to the Club in 2012.
“Those participating in thoroughbred racing in Canada can now support and participate in an independent national body with the mandate of The Jockey Club of Canada,” commented Chief Steward, James Lawson, “The initiatives of the Club continue to grow with the industry. Funding, support and innovative ideas from dedicated individuals is necessary to ensure the future success of this much needed independent organization.”
The newly elected members of The Jockey Club of Canada for 2012 are:
Michael Paul De Paulo, Vern Dubinsky, Deborah England, George Ledson, Carlo Tucci, Lou Tucci, Howard Walton and Joe Warwick.
The Jockey Club of Canada was founded in 1973 by E.P. Taylor to serve as the international representative of the Canadian Thoroughbred industry and to promote improvements to Thoroughbred racing and breeding, both in Canada and internationally. The Jockey Club of Canada operates a field office for The Jockey Club (New York); organizes the Sovereign Awards; administers the Graded Stakes program in Canada; liaises with foreign Jockey Clubs; promotes Thoroughbred ownership; and represents Canada at international racing conferences.
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