It’s an election year for the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. The NYTHA Board consists of five Owner Directors, five Trainer or Owner/Trainer Directors, and the President. Elections are held every three years, and all qualified NYTHA members may participate in electing the President and the Board of Directors. The process for the next election began in August with the formation of the Nominating and Election Committee, consisting of Chair Mark Hennig, Jon Hochberg, and Robert Ribaudo.

Nominations for candidates will close at the General Nominating Meeting to be held at Belmont Park on Wednesday, September 23. Those who cannot attend in person can participate via Zoom conference call.

General Nominating Meeting Details
Date: Wednesday, Sept. 23
Time: 11:00 am
Place: Chaplaincy Center near Gate 6 of Belmont Park

To register for the Zoom, go to:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83383403547
You must register in advance for the Zoom portion of the NYTHA General Nominating Meeting.

There are two options for eligible members who would like to be included on the ballot for the NYTHA Board.

1) Submit your nomination in writing to the NYTHA Nominating and Election Committee, including your name; current mailing and email address; whether you are an owner, a trainer, or an owner/trainer; and whether you will be a candidate for the Board of Directors, or for President. Nominations in writing can be submitted to Mark Hennig, Chair of the Nominating and Election Committee, or by email to Election2026@nytha.com; OR

2) Submit your nomination during the General Nominating Meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. If any member wishes to run for the Board, a nomination can be made from the floor at the General Nominating Meeting. The member must consent in writing to the nomination, and must submit her/his name; current mailing and email address; whether she/he is an owner, a trainer, or an owner/trainer; and whether she/he will be a candidate for the Board of Directors, or for President.

CANDIDATES FOR NOMINATION OR TO SERVE AS A NYTHA DIRECTOR MUST:

(A) He or she is and has been a voting Member in good standing of the Association (licensed as an owner or trainer by the New York State Gaming Commission, and listed as a Thoroughbred racehorse owner or trainer in the Equibase owner or trainer records and in an official track program, OR own a minimum of 5% of a Thoroughbred racehorse that starts in a qualifying race within the jurisdiction of this Association) for at least one year immediately preceding the date of his or her nomination.

(B) He or she starts a Thoroughbred racehorse in a qualifying race within the jurisdiction
of this Association a minimum of five (5) times while a voting Member in the Association
in the one year immediately preceding the date of his or her nomination.

CANDIDATES FOR NOMINATION OR TO SERVE AS NYTHA PRESIDENT MUST:

The President shall be elected by the Association’s voting Members. No person shall be
eligible for nomination or to serve as President or Vice President unless:

(A) He or she has been a voting Member in good standing of the Association for at least three (3) years immediately preceding the date of his or her nomination.

(B) He or she has been licensed as an owner, owner-trainer or trainer during each of the
three (3) years immediately preceding the date of his or her nomination.

(C) He or she has owned or trained horses in the Association during each of the three (3) years immediately preceding the date of his or her nomination.

(D) He or she starts a Thoroughbred racehorse in a qualifying race within the jurisdiction
of this Association a minimum of five (5) times while a voting Member in the Association
in each of the last three (3) years immediately preceding the date of his or her
nomination.

(E) He or she meets the above qualifications on the date of his or her nomination.

The NYTHA Election will be held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting on Tuesday, December 22, 2026.

Voting for the NYTHA Election will take place, in person or by proxy, at the NYTHA Annual Meeting, to be held on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2026.

All votes must be cast in person or by proxy during the Annual Meeting. In order to vote by proxy, a NYTHA member must complete the proxy authorization and, when necessary, the self-affirmation form attesting to the member’s eligibility to vote, and it must be received, by mail or electronically, no later than the deadline of 5 p.m., EST, on Friday, Dec. 18, 2026.

PROXY AUTHORIZATIONS AND SELF-AFFIRMATION FORMS WILL, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES, BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE DEADLINE OF 5 P.M., EST, ON FRIDAY, DEC. 18, 2026.

The new NYTHA Board will take office in December 2026.

If you feel you are entitled to vote in the NYTHA Election, but do not receive a voting package, please contact the NYTHA Office at (718) 848-5045, or send an email to: Election2026@nytha.com.