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BOARD
OF
DIRECTORS
Tranquility
Farm’s Board of Directors represents many varied aspects of the
racing world, but all share a common love of the Thoroughbred,
and a deep commitment to their humane treatment. Their mutual
goal is to create a sustainable and replicable program that will
make quality retirement care and adoption the norm for horses
leaving racing in need of new careers. Together, they are
working toward a united Thoroughbred industry, and a nation,
that does not tolerate the slaughter of helpless horses.
PRISCILLA
CLARK,
President
Priscilla Clark is a lifelong horse professional. She has bred
and owned Thoroughbreds exclusively since 1983, and worked for
many years as a certified farrier, partner in a racing stable,
and farm owner. Since her earliest involvement in racing she has
taken in Thoroughbreds that were injured or unwanted, and for
the last ten years advocacy for humane retirement has been the
main focus of her working life. Her efforts to make
rehabilitation and adoption programs an integral part of racing
have been featured in The Blood-Horse, Chronicle of the Horse,
Daily Racing Form, and many national equestrian publications.
Since 1998 she has served as the Director of Tranquility Farm.
GARY
E.
BISZANTZ,
Vice
President
Gary E. Biszantz is the former Chairman of Cobra Golf, Inc., a
manufacturer of graphite shafted golf clubs with factories and
offices in Carlsbad, California. Selling his company to American
Brands in 1996, he turned his time and talent to one of his
lifelong passions -- thoroughbred racing. Committed to improving
racing, Biszantz serves on the Executive Committee and Graded
Stakes Committee of the TOBA, and also serves on the board of
the Breeders' Cup. Biszantz was introduced to racing through his
father, and has owned horses since 1956. He owns the 225 acre
Cobra Farm in Lexington, Kentucky. Biszantz has campaigned such
graded stakes winners as Old Trieste, Cobra King, Admise,
Running Flame, Savinio, Caesour, Sekondi, Three Peat, Mayflower
Lass, River Rhythm, Turbo Fan, Olanthe, Complot, Just Tops, Lord
Grillo and Praviana.
JAY
HOVDEY,
Secretary
Jay Hovdey, executive
columnist for Daily Racing Form, has been honored four times
with an Eclipse Award for his coverage of Thoroughbred racing.
Hovdey's other writing honors include the David Woods Award for
coverage of the Preakness (twice), the Joe Hirsch Award for
coverage of the Breeders' Cup (twice), the Sovereign Award for
coverage of Canadian racing, and the Walter Haight Award from
his peers in the National Turf Writers Association for career
excellence. Hovdey has written three books: Inside Horse Racing
(published in 1986), Whittingham: the Story of a Thoroughbred
Racing Legend (1993) and Cigar: America's Horse (1996). He also
wrote the text for Katey Barrett's photographic book, The Light
Touch. Hovdey lives near San Diego with his wife, retired Hall
of Fame jockey Julie Krone, and their daughter Lorelei.
GAYLE
VAN
LEER,
Treasurer
Gayle Van
Leer, an international bloodstock agent based in Del Mar, has
been involved in racing in California for over 30 years. She is
perhaps best known for her 8 ½ stint as racing manager for
Golden Eagle Farm through the years that Best Pal raced and the
farm earned the first of their Eclipse awards. Gayle has been
actively involved in promoting ownership of thoroughbreds by
volunteering her time as a speaker with Thoroughbred Owners of
California (TOC) and Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders
Association (TOBA). She has also been active with non-profit
groups promoting equine health and welfare.
JOHN
AMERMAN,
Director
John Amerman served as Chairman and CEO of Mattel, the world’s
largest toymaker, from 1987 to 1997. He, and his wife Jerry,
have been Thoroughbred owners since 1987.
They presently own about fifty horses, and among their major
accomplishments are: LIDO PALACE, Whitney and Woodward (Grs.I);
SIPHONIC, Hollywood Fut.(Gr.I); ADORATION, Breeders’ Cup
Hollywood Oaks, (GII); PRINTREMPS, Hawthorne Hcp.(Gr.II);
HAPPYANUNOIT, Matriarch (Gr.I), Beverly Hills Hcp. (Gr.I), and
Gamely Breeders’ Cup Hcp. (Gr.I); MASH ONE, Oak Tree
Invitational (Gr.I) and Clement L. Hirsh, (Gr.I), and STAR OF
COZZENE, Arlington Million (Gr.I).
The Amermans operate a lay-up facility, Peacefield Farm, in
Temecula, California, and support the retirement facilities of
Tranquility Farm and California Equine Retirement Foundation.
TOM
BACHMAN,
Director
Tom Bachman was born
and raised in Michigan. He began riding at the age of 7. His
high school years were spent at Culver Military Academy where he
was involved in polo and jumping teams. He graduated from
Boston University with a BA in Business. He moved to California
and began riding professionally and buying and selling show
horses. In the late 1970's he began breeding racehorses and by
1980 his entire focus became the racing business. In 1988, his
thoroughbred operation, Pegasus Ranch, moved from Sebastopol to
its current 300 acre full service facility in Petaluma. Tom has
served on the boards of the HBPA (4 years), CTBA (10 years) and
presently on the TOC (6 years).
TREVOR
DENMAN,
Director
Trevor Denman has been calling races for thirty years; formerly in
Durban, South Africa, and for the last 18 years, at Santa Anita
and Del Mar.
"It is an honor to be working with Tranquility Farm, in an
endeavor that is so special to Thoroughbreds." Trevor Denman
DAVID
DINERMAN,
Director
David Dinerman is a life long
Thoroughbred horseracing fan with an extensive background in
sports and entertainment marketing and has served as a
consultant to numerous non-profit organizations. Prior to
joining the Tranquility Farm Board he served as Executive
Director of The Piedra Foundation. He has served in senior
management positions with Marriott Corporation, Admar
Corporation (a Division of the Principle Group), The Baltimore
Orioles and The American Red Cross. Since that time he has
served in a broad variety of staff and consultative roles in
heath care, human services, fitness and economic development. A
tireless advocate for youth sports and fitness, David donates
his time as a youth baseball and basketball coach and currently
serves as President of the Del Mar Little League.
FRANK
LYONS,
Director
Born in Dublin, Ireland, and raised in Dunboyne, County Meath,
Frank Lyons had his first job in racing with Gita Weld, wife of
world-renowned trainer Dermot Weld. He spent eight months in a
training program at the Irish National Stud and from there went
to work for Frank Dunne, an owner-trainer whose most famous
horse, Stannera, won two graded stakes races within three days
at the Royal Ascot meet. Not long after that, Frank landed a
position as an assistant to Bill O’Neill at Circle O Farm in
Paris, Ky. Eventually, after a brief return to Ireland, he moved
to the U.S. for good, taking a job as assistant manager at
Jonabell Farm. He went on to open his own public stable, and
celebrated his greatest day as a trainer in 1995 at the
Breeders' Cup at Belmont Park, when he saddled the filly Desert
Stormer to win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
Although his first love is still working with horses, Frank has
found success in front of the camera. He was among the first to
join the horse racing network TVG, signing on as an analyst. He
continues to enjoy horses as an owner--he was a partner in 2004
Santa Anita Derby winner Castledale--and he has been an active
spokesman for their welfare.
GAIL
MATTHEWS,
Director
Creator of WINNING HANDS, equine massage therapist Gail Matthews
was certified by Equissage in Round Hill, Virginia, and trained
by Linda Tellington-Jones and equine chiropractor Dr. Daniel R.
Kamen. The focus of Gail’s practice is the Thoroughbred
racehorse. Established in 1998, WINNING HANDS enjoys a clientele
that includes LAVA MAN, CHOCTAW NATION, STEVIE WONDERBOY,
CASTLEDALE, CAPTAIN SQUIRE, CAMBIOCORSA, SOUTHERN IMAGE, ISLAND
FASHION, CONTINENTAL RED, BLUESTHESTANDARD and SPAIN. Committed
to the elimination of force in horse management and training,
Gail utilizes a variety of massage techniques to promote
fitness, health and behavior modification in often
hard-to-handle horses. Her work is about love, respect, and
meeting the horse eye to eye. Gail is personally owned by a
small band of Quarter Horses, a three-legged dog and three cats.
Her interests include sailing and geophysics. Gail is a graduate
of Smith College and Columbia University. Her personal hero is
Elizabeth I.
Feb. 12, 2007 Tranquility Farm and
horses in general loose someone special.
More...Jay
Hovdey's column,
BloodHorse.com,
Daily Racing Form
TRUDY
MCCAFFERY,
Emeritus
Trudy
McCaffery is a breeder, an owner, and a passionate advocate for
the welfare of Thoroughbreds, both during their careers and in
their retirement. Her best horses, owned in partnership with
John Toffan, include Free House, Bien Bien, Came Home, A.P.
Assay, Del Mar Dennis, Bienamado, Pacific Squall, Mane Minister
and Kumari Continent. She is a founder and president of Kids to
the Cup, an organization that promotes the involvement of young
people in horse racing. She is also a past director of the
Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association, and currently
serves on the board of directors of the Thoroughbred Owners of
California, and the California Thoroughbred Breeder's
Association.
Feb 25, 2004 Board member John
Russell passes.
More...
JOHN
RUSSELL,
Emeritus
John Russell, born in England, has spent his entire life
connected with Thoroughbred racing. The son of a prominent
English trainer, he left his homeland at an early age to pursue
his own career as a trainer in America. After training champions
and many other top class horses, and winning more than a hundred
stakes races at the major racecourses from Paris to Hong Kong
and throughout America, he retired in 1995. Since that time he
has become a free-lance writer for various Thoroughbred
magazines including The Blood-Horse and Backstretch, and
published his first novel, Dark Horses. He has written and
directed two videos on racing and been a guest speaker at
various functions. Served as Chairman of the Advisory
Board to the California Equine Retirement Foundation (CERF) from
1999 to 2001. Joined the Tranquility Farm board in 2001 and
served until his death February 25, 2004. His contributions,
wisdom, and sense of humor are greatly missed.
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