About TOC

• Mission Statement
• Financial Statements
• Articles of Incorporation
• Bylaws
• Board of Directors
• Staff & Consultants
• TOC Accomplishments

TOC Board of Directors

Mike Pegram Chairman	Pablo Suarez  Vice Chair Southern California, Secretary	Jack Owens Vice Chair Northern California	Pete Parrella Treasurer
Madeline Auerbach Director	Martin Bach Director	Bob Baffert Director	Brian Boudreau Director
Dr. Mark Dedomenico Director	Dennis Cardoza Director	Ron Ellis Director	Cal Fischer Director
Billy Koch Director	Ed Moger Director At Large	Keith Pronske Director

Personal & Professional Background

I am Madeline Auerbach and I have lived in Southern California for more than 40 years raising a family and running a successful business. My late husband, James, and I established a wholesale furniture manufacturing company, which my oldest son helped me run for several years before selling in 2004. During my 34-year marriage, I raised three children and four dogs while my husband and I became involved in the horseracing business.

Equine Experience

We claimed our first horse, Bravo Bravo, in 1977. By 1998, we decided to try the breeding business and put our horse Unusual Heat out to stud. The first of his progeny, Frankie Eyelashes, ran her first start at Del Mar in 2001 and won. This began a successful line of thoroughbreds, including Tucked Away, Thermal Ablation, and Lennyfrommalibu, who holds the track record on the six and a half furlong turf course at Santa Anita.

Goals as a TOC Director

The racing industry is very fragmented. It is essential for all related organizations to unite in order to get things done. Key areas include: increasing the handle, making sure the purse structure provides the greatest benefit to the owners, and instilling confidence in the integrity of the industry to the public. We also have to do whatever we can to encourage an increase in the thoroughbred population to fill the fields as well as making the racetracks more fan friendly environments.

Personal & Professional Background

I am a Senior Vice President Investments, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, where I have been for 39 years. I graduated from the University of Wisconsin. I live in Blackhawk, CA and have two children. My son David is a best selling author of financial books, and my daughter Emily is also a Vice President at Morgan Stanley Dean Witter. My wife Bobbi is a singer and actress; we have been married for 42 years.

Equine Experience

I purchased my first racehorse in 1970. I've been hooked by the challenges, excitement and camaraderie ever since. I presently race, breed, and sell thoroughbreds. Currently I own 23 horses. I have been active in the NCTA, CTBA and am on the Board of Directors of the TOC.

Goals as TOC Director

I joined the TOC Board in 2003. I am proud of the directions of the TOC and my contributions to the Board. The thoroughbred industry is going through a turbulent and difficult time both statistically and politically. I desire to represent the thoroughbred owner who is having such a hard time making ends meet because of accelerating costs and declining purses. In Northern California the future is very cloudy and I want to help to improve the economic situation. The future of horse racing is dependent on the TOC's leadership. I want to be part of the leadership team.

Personal & Professional Background

Born in Nogales, Arizona, he grew up on his family's cattle ranch. A graduate of the University of Arizona's racetrack industry program, he began training his father's quarter horses at Sonoita and Rillito, before moving his stable to Los Alamitos in 1982. He switched to training Thoroughbreds in 1991 at the suggestion of owner Mike Pegram. The father of five, he resides in Arcadia with his wife, Jill.

Baffert is continually a leading trainer by earnings in the nation, holds multiple Southern California training titles, and is a three-time Eclipse Awards winner. He has won the Kentucky Derby three times--with Silver Charm in 1997, Real Quiet in 1998, and War Emblem in 2002; the Preakness with Silver Charm, Real Quiet, Point Given (2001), and War Emblem; and the Belmont S. with Point Given. He also has three Breeders' Cup wins--with Vindication (2002), Silverbulletday (1998), and Thirty Slews (1992).

Goals as TOC Director

Equine Experience

Goals as a TOC Director

Reorganizing our purse structure to bring new owners into California racing is vital. I will work diligently to develop a purse structure that fosters new ownership by increasing all maiden purses to accelerate an owner’s return on investment. I will push to expand state owner’s awards to include not only Cal-breds, but also horses sired by California stallions. By allowing California-sired horses to compete for California owner’s awards even if bred in another state, we create an incentive for those horses to come back and race in California.

 

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Dr. Mark Dedomenico

Personal and Professional Background

           

As a cardiovascular surgeon and researcher, I played a key role in the development of coronary bypass surgery and the Guided Flow Aortic Heart Valve and the Bionit Arterial Grafts that are used around the world. I’m a founding member of Hope Heart Institute in Seattle, Washington. I own and operate the 45,000 – member PRO Sports Health Club where we have carried out extensive research in the field of metabolic disorders, like high cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes, the main cause of heart disease. I’m involved in the research and treatment of obesity. At Pegasus Thoroughbred Training and Rehabilitation center in Redmond, Washington I’m involved in researching new treatments for equine middle and lower knee injuries as well as researching the use of Platelet Rich Plasma and Stem Cell Therapy. This work is a joint effort with the world’s leading equine orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Wayne McIlwraith.

 

Equine Experience

           

I started going to the race track with my father over sixty years ago. Following in the footsteps of my father, who raced multiple stakes winners on the west coast for many years, I have more than 50 horses in training, including 2010 Eclipse Award Champion three-year-old filly Blind Luck, co-owned with trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and partners John Caver and Peter Abruzzo. I also have 2010 graded and stakes winner’s City to City, Wonderlandbynight, Cathy’s Crunches and Alec Moon.

 

Goals as a TOC Director

 

Racing in California is faced with a difficult economy, the probable loss of Hollywood Park and a decline in owners, horses and trainers. The industry is also split into several opposing groups. I will put my best efforts towards finding solutions to these problems. I believe if we can get everyone working together we can solve California’s racing problems. 

 

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RON ELLIS

Personal & Professional Background

 

Ellis has been training since 1980, and has also served as racing commentator for Fox TV network and TVG. Married into a racing family, his wife, the former Amy McGee, has two brothers in the industry – Marty, a Midwest columnist for Daily Racing Form, and Paul, a trainer based in Kentucky. The Ellis’s have three daughters.

 

Equine Experience

 

When he was 20 years old, his first horse, To B. Or Not, became a multiple stakes winner and launched him on a successful career. Among his many stakes winners are Twice the Vice, Exotic Wood, Pirate’s Revenge, Declan’s Moon, Benchmark, Atswhatimtalknbout, Indiana Derby winner Don’t Get Mad, and Buzzards Bay, winner of the All American and Oaklawn Handicaps.

 

Goals for TOC

 

I hope to make positive contributions to the board, drawing from my 32 years experience on the backstretch.  I believe the TOC has become a powerful voice for horsemen, as proven by their work to get artificial surfaces installed and a great workers’ compensation program. As always, there is much more to be done, including working for equitable distributions of the ADW and off-track wagering money, continued improvement in drug testing and surveillance, and improving the availability of our racing signal year round.

Born and raised in Southern California, currently, I reside in Hidden Hills with my wife of eleven years, Kathy, and our three sons: Cooper (8), Payton (8) and Walker (4). After graduating from Northwestern University with a degree in Radio, Television and Film, I've worked in various capacities of the motion picture industry for the past thirteen years including production (Wayne's World), visual effects (Rhythm & Hues), and on-line production management (Disney, ABC).

Equine Experience

After grammar school, my grandfather, late Hollywood Producer Howard W. Koch, used to sneak me to the backstretch at Hollywood Park. While managing racing partnerships in the nineties, I also worked as a commentator on Fox's Hollywood Park Today. In 2001, I created the partnership Little Red Feather Racing. Currently, LRF has seven horses in training and last October, the "barn boss", Singletary, won the Breeders' Cup Mile proving that dreams really can come true.

Goals for TOC

Equine Experience

I have been an owner and breeder of thoroughbreds for 30 years, racing predominantly in Northern California.  I was elected to the TOC Board in its initial election, was reelected in 1997, and served as Chairman of the Board in 2001-03 and 2004-05.

Goals as a TOC Director

 

Personal & Professional Background

 

I am 64 years old, and I have been married to my wife, Evelyn, for 19 years. I have two children and three grandchildren. A business major in college, I was in lumber sales for ten years and in 1976 started my own lumber company, Parr Lumber Co., Inc., which has a 10 acre lumber and plywood distribution facility in Chino, California, and 40 employees – including my son, daughter, and son-in-law. Our sales have reached upward of one hundred million dollars. My wife and I reside in Corona del Mar, California.

Equine Experience

My Wife and I own Legacy Ranch Inc. We started in 1987 with a 30 acre ranch in Chino, where we boarded approximately 120 head. In 2004 we sold that facility and purchased Blooming Hills Ranch in Clements. We now have 145 acre facility and approximately 400 horses, about 100 of which we own. A full service ranch with a 5/8 mile training track, we stand two stallions for clients: CINDAGO and OUR NEW RECRUIT.

Goals for TOC

I have been going to the races for 40 years. As a player, owner and breeder, I have experienced all aspects of this industry. Presently I am the treasurer of the C.T.B.A. I have made a major financial contribution to the California horse industry. I believe we are at the crossroads for survival. We need leaders with an open mind that can make decisions that will benefit the racing industry. As a member of the TOC Board of Directors, I will put forth my best effort to fulfill this position.

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MIKE PEGRAM

Personal & Professional Background

 

I was born in 1952 in Fort Knox, Kentucky and raised in Princeton, Indiana a stone’s throw from Ellis Park, where my love of racing first began.  I have owned and operated McDonalds restaurants for over 30 years, having recently moved my franchises from Seattle to Phoenix where my operation is now based. I was a contributing founder of the National Thoroughbred Association and remain an active supporter of Ronald McDonald Charities. My wife, Mary Ellen, and I spend our time between Phoenix, Reno and Del Mar.

 

Equine Experience

 

I have operated my Thoroughbred racing stable for over three decades, racing four champions including Real Quiet, Silverbulletday, Midnight Lute, and 2009 Juvenile Colt Lookin At Lucky. I have been fortunate enough to win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint three times (Thirty Slews 1992; Midnight Lute 2007 & 2008), the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (Silverbulletday 1998), the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Colts (Lookin At  Lucky 2009), the Dubai World Cup (Captain Steve 2001), the Kentucky Oaks (Silverbulletday 1999), the Kentucky Derby and Preakness (Real Quiet 1998).

 

Goals for TOC

 

These are perilous times for racing. As a TOC director, I will do my part to unify a deeply divided industry. It is my commitment to work on the imminent, make-or-break decisions that we face with the future of our racetracks, purse structure and overall declining health of racing. I would like to reestablish the integrity of racing in California. Let's work together to make California racing great again.

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KEITH PRONSKE

Personal & Professional Background

I’m currently the President and CEO of a startup energy company, Clean Energy Systems, Inc., and have spent most my career developing large energy infrastructure projects. Previously I was Senior Vice President for Business Development for a Global 100 European energy company, working primarily in Latin America and Europe. I have a BS in Mechanical Engineering from UC Davis and an MBA from San Francisco State University. I was born in San Francisco and have spent most my life in California, but have also lived and worked in Washington DC, Houston, and London.

Equine Experience

I have been in the Thoroughbred business since 1997, although my wife has spent most of her entire career working in the thoroughbred industry. We currently own a small thoroughbred farm in Wilton, near Sacramento, and own 21 thoroughbreds, consisting of breeding and racing stock.

Goals for TOC

As a small breeder and owner, we are well aware of the challenges facing the thoroughbred industry, and particularly in California. I wish to contribute to finding solutions in these difficult times, which I believe should start with increasing the fan base to increase revenues, as this drives the industry. To this end, my primary interests are horse and jockey safety, horse retirement, and racing integrity. These subjects define the image or face of our industry to the general public.

I am also interested in helping to address the need to secure long-term racetrack infrastructure. By necessity, this requires long-term planning and commitments, instead of the year-to-year approach currently used in the industry. This was fine with an adequate and stable number of racetracks for 70 years or so, but that is no longer the environment we face. The problem is immediate for Northern California and pending for Southern California.

Equine Experience

An avid racing fan since he was 18, Suarez purchased his first racehorse, a $12,500 claimer, in 2001. He has campaigned Thor’s Echo and Sharp Lisa in partnerships, and races under Suarez Racing, Inc. and in the Superman silks. He also owns multiple stallions and mares in California.

Goals for TOC

To unify the TVG and HRTV signals for the promotion and benefit of horse racing and its fans, and to ensure that horse racing, at any track, may be viewed on any cable or satellite system. To significantly increase the purses for owners by facilitating an equitable financial arrangement with racing, the Indian tribes, and Sacramento. To establish uniformity and consistency in medication guidelines, to instill confidence and integrity of our sport with the betting public. And to market horse racing creatively; would like to see every racing weekend at a California track be similar to a weekend of racing at Del Mar.