Sizzlin' Summer Cookout for SCTOBA

The fun factor and the relative humidity were both near 100% as the SCTOBA celebrated at a cookout at the Elloree Training Center on July 10th. The attendees were treated to a cookout by Master Chef (and SCTOBA Board Member) Tuffy Rast. Additional culinary treats were prepared by Debbie Rast, Debbie Jobe, Bailey Bolen and Gwen Christian.

President Lee Christian updated the group on the Sissy Woolums Memorial Race to be held July 18th at Colonial Downs. This race could expand to become a regional race with other states joining with Virginia and SC. He also said that Charleston Southern is going to do a survey to determine the economic impact of the horse industry in South Carolina. This will be of great help when talking to legislators about our business.

Jeremy Heidenreich briefed the group on his ongoing work building the SCTOBA website (www.sctoba.org). The site is close to completion and all members were encouraged to visit the site and recruit vets, farriers, etc to register for the directory. Newly elected Board member Kelly Murphy explained the information form to be used to develop a membership services directory. This will be a useful tool for members to seek out other members who share similar goals in the horse industry.

Board member Kip Elser gave an update on the much-anticipated possibility of a SC Residency Race at Philadelphia Park in the fall of 2005. He hoped to have an agreement in hand early enough so that marketing materials could go out to the training centers this fall.

The group discussed various alternative dates for the Stallion Season Auction and the awards dinner. The group concluded that the SCTOBA should have winning races and more good times like the Sizzlin Summer Cookout.