Bios submitted for the 2024 Annual General Meeting
Meet Mike Arnold - Running for Director 1-Year Term
BIO for Mike Arnold
My name is Mike Arnold, and though most of you probably don’t know who I am, you’ve likely seen me standing at the rail watching races or occasionally around the backstretch. I currently own 3 horses in the Travis Ellis barn including Tajmania (unless somebody has claimed him between time of writing and reading lol). Unfortunately, I couldn’t be there with you tonight in person as I am in PEI for their harness racing awards banquet.
I’ve been involved in Standardbred racehorse ownership since 2016, have owned (bought/sold/claimed/etc.) around 40 horses in that time frame, and I am licensed and racing in 3 jurisdictions in Canada being Alberta, Ontario and PEI. Each jurisdiction has their own positives and negatives, and I think my experience with other racing jurisdictions can lend a unique perspective and well-rounded background from an ownership point of view.
Over that time frame, locations, and number of horses, I’ve had 4 trainers. 3 of those 4 I still do business with in the 3 jurisdictions. The other one, well he taught me a lot of lessons about the dark side of this business.
I’m not hands on with the horses, I am hands on with the business. I know most of you trainers just groaned reading or hearing that, but I believe my trainers would vouch for me. One of them last week had me handle all the financial details on a horse he was selling in the US that I had no stake in, because he knew I could get it done much easier and quicker than he could. I’m sure reading/hearing this blurb, or if you spend any time actually talking to me you get tired of hearing the word business. That’s my qualification, what I bring to the table for this position, I know and believe in the business. I have an anecdote I follow, not sure who said it first but its true: Good business partners can make good friends, good friends do not make good business partners.
In high school a special treat when we got done haying/combining/milking the cows in time was going to Hanover Raceway with my brother-in-law who had a fondness for the game. At that time Trevor Henry was on his way up, Colonel Schneider JR was a mainstay, Bud Fritz’ son in law drove the milk truck and we had no idea how big of a deal Bud Fritz actually was, and Clarence Beitz had the coolest track built inside the bush at his farm outside of town. Saturday night under the lights in Hanover will forever be ingrained in my memory. It even became my go to date move, as Id learned at $2 a race it was affordable entertainment and excitement.
I am willing to stand today for the position of director-1 yr. The reason I specify 1 yr is that for somebody new on the outside coming in, I think 1 yr is much more appropriate than a longer commitment. We can get to know each other and re-evaluate our connection next year.
Thank you for hearing my nomination and your consideration.
-Mike Arnold
My name is Mike Arnold, and though most of you probably don’t know who I am, you’ve likely seen me standing at the rail watching races or occasionally around the backstretch. I currently own 3 horses in the Travis Ellis barn including Tajmania (unless somebody has claimed him between time of writing and reading lol). Unfortunately, I couldn’t be there with you tonight in person as I am in PEI for their harness racing awards banquet.
I’ve been involved in Standardbred racehorse ownership since 2016, have owned (bought/sold/claimed/etc.) around 40 horses in that time frame, and I am licensed and racing in 3 jurisdictions in Canada being Alberta, Ontario and PEI. Each jurisdiction has their own positives and negatives, and I think my experience with other racing jurisdictions can lend a unique perspective and well-rounded background from an ownership point of view.
Over that time frame, locations, and number of horses, I’ve had 4 trainers. 3 of those 4 I still do business with in the 3 jurisdictions. The other one, well he taught me a lot of lessons about the dark side of this business.
I’m not hands on with the horses, I am hands on with the business. I know most of you trainers just groaned reading or hearing that, but I believe my trainers would vouch for me. One of them last week had me handle all the financial details on a horse he was selling in the US that I had no stake in, because he knew I could get it done much easier and quicker than he could. I’m sure reading/hearing this blurb, or if you spend any time actually talking to me you get tired of hearing the word business. That’s my qualification, what I bring to the table for this position, I know and believe in the business. I have an anecdote I follow, not sure who said it first but its true: Good business partners can make good friends, good friends do not make good business partners.
In high school a special treat when we got done haying/combining/milking the cows in time was going to Hanover Raceway with my brother-in-law who had a fondness for the game. At that time Trevor Henry was on his way up, Colonel Schneider JR was a mainstay, Bud Fritz’ son in law drove the milk truck and we had no idea how big of a deal Bud Fritz actually was, and Clarence Beitz had the coolest track built inside the bush at his farm outside of town. Saturday night under the lights in Hanover will forever be ingrained in my memory. It even became my go to date move, as Id learned at $2 a race it was affordable entertainment and excitement.
I am willing to stand today for the position of director-1 yr. The reason I specify 1 yr is that for somebody new on the outside coming in, I think 1 yr is much more appropriate than a longer commitment. We can get to know each other and re-evaluate our connection next year.
Thank you for hearing my nomination and your consideration.
-Mike Arnold
Interested in BREEDERS COMMITTEE
Meet Marilyn McGhan
Hello, My name is Marilyn McGhan and I would be interested in participating on the Breeding Committee. I know few folks would know who I am so have provided a bit of information here for your consideration.
Horse Breeding Experience: Became interested in the breeding side of horses when dating and eventually marrying Dr. Roy Saito - he encouraged me to look at some quarter horses at that time. I remarried 6 years after Roy passed to Bruce McGhan who was training horses. We got involved in breeding and had leased 26 Canadian Pinto mares and 2 stallions for breeding so had a great deal of hands on with breeding and foaling of the horses, selection of stallions, culling of mares, etc. We then purchased a share in a Warmblood Stallion imported from Germany, bred our best pinto mares and had them inspected with foals on them for acceptance into the Warmblood registry. I certainly understand the need to breed horses for conformation, disposition and certainly for the heart to perform. |
My grandson got me interested in Standardbred horses as he was involved in the Standardbred 4H yearling project and we went to support him in the sale and presentation of his horse for the sale. Roy Saito loved working with the Standardbreds and spoke of them often.
I am still learning about the Standardbreds and anticipate I will always be learning more. I am open to getting as much information as I can to produce better and better foals that will grow up to race. My desire would be to share information with other breeders and find out their needs as well.
Education
Diploma in Equine Studies from Grant MacEwan College, Edmonton in 1979
Western Level 1 Coaching Certificate 1979
Instructor Certification from Cheff Centre for the Handicapped in Augusta Michigan
CAIB - Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker 1998
CIP - Chartered Insurance Professional - 2001
Professional Career
I have been a licensed insurance broker in Alberta for both General Insurance and Life insurance. I owned my own brokerage, Shaw Insurance Agencies Ltd which I sold in 2022. My main business focus was developing an adequate liability package for the Equine industry and have worked diligently towards that for over 20 years.
I hope this information will assist you in knowing me better but do feel free to contact me for further information.
If you’d like to see a bit of my history with horses, check this out CF DOUBLE DARE
Sincerely
Marilyn McGhan
I am still learning about the Standardbreds and anticipate I will always be learning more. I am open to getting as much information as I can to produce better and better foals that will grow up to race. My desire would be to share information with other breeders and find out their needs as well.
Education
Diploma in Equine Studies from Grant MacEwan College, Edmonton in 1979
Western Level 1 Coaching Certificate 1979
Instructor Certification from Cheff Centre for the Handicapped in Augusta Michigan
CAIB - Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker 1998
CIP - Chartered Insurance Professional - 2001
Professional Career
I have been a licensed insurance broker in Alberta for both General Insurance and Life insurance. I owned my own brokerage, Shaw Insurance Agencies Ltd which I sold in 2022. My main business focus was developing an adequate liability package for the Equine industry and have worked diligently towards that for over 20 years.
I hope this information will assist you in knowing me better but do feel free to contact me for further information.
If you’d like to see a bit of my history with horses, check this out CF DOUBLE DARE
Sincerely
Marilyn McGhan