The MSBOA is inviting all interested Horsemen and Horsewomen to the 2nd MSBOA Maine Standardbred Seminar Day. It will take place on Saturdsy, March 19th from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at the Sable Oakes Marriott in South Portland.

An excellent buffet lunch will be served as part of the conference fee. The cost for non-MSBOA members is $65.00 including lunch. The cost for MSBOA members is $40.00 including lunch. Registration begins at 8am.

Registration information can be found at this link

The one and a half hour sessions will be with six of the world leaders in their respective fields :

TROND SMEDSHAMMER- One of the world’s leading trotting horse trainers; driver/trainer of Windsongs Legacy- Triple Crown winner. Currently trainer of three World Champions- Arch Madness, Break the Bank K, and Likeabatoutahell, and many top prospects for 2011.

Trond was popular speaker at the 2009 winter banquet and will talk about shoeing and foot care, feeding programs, exercise regimes for 2 and 3 year olds & older horses, training routines, use of the treadmill, swimming, power carts and lunge rings. He will also talk about confirmation and selection of yearlings.

Trond’s sessions will be 8:30-10:00 am & 1:15-2:45pm. There will be ample time for questions at each session and also between sessions.

NORMAN HALL-THE “PEDIGREE GURU”- Norman was very popular at our first Standarbred Seminar Day in 2009. He is back to discuss the the principles of matching Sires with Mares. He will use examples of Maine Stallions and provide participants with the basic, time-tested theories of pedigree matching. Bring your own horse pedigrees and find out the best match. Invaluable basics of breeding choices.

Norman will speak from 8:30-10:00 am & 1:15-2:45 pm

DAN COON- The track expert from Lexington, Kentucky. Dan has consulted around the world on track design, track safety, and track maintenance. He is prepared for a nitty-gritty discussion of how to keep Maine tracks in top condition. He will also discuss the use of different materials and equipment. How to use the material we have, will be combined with advice on equipment needs to maintain a good and safe racing surface

 Dan’s sessions are from 8:30-10:00am & 1:15-2:45 pm.

STEVE AND CINDY STEWART- owners of Hunterton Farms, Paris Kentucky. Steve and Cindy are back by popular demand! They are engaging speakers with a world of experience in breeding. raising and prepping of yearlings. In 2009, they bred, raised and sold Sportswriter- 2-year-old champion, and Rock N Roll Heaven(p,2,1:50.2, 3 1:47.3-$2,748,818) and World Champion Highscore Kemp. They also sold the top priced yearling in Lexington.

In 2010, they bred Rock N Roll Heaven, Idyllic, Blue Porche, and World Champion Mystic Desire. In addition, they sold the highest priced yearling in Lexington for $350,000.00, and 2nd highest priced yearling at $250,000.00 and led all agent consignors, with 40 head selling for an average of over $41,000.00.

They will speak from 10:15-11:45am and again from 3:00-4:30 pm. There will be plenty of time for questions on breeding, feeding, pedigrees, yearling prep, etc.

DR. SCOT WATERMAN- is Executive Director of the Racing and Medication and Testing Consortium. He received his Veterinary degree from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. After practicing veterinary medicine for 8 years, he attended the Race Track Industry Program at the University of Arizona in 2001 and began working for the National Thoroughbred Racing and Drug Testing Task Force and has since become the Director of the Racing Medication and Testing Consortium. He has worked closely on the Model Rules Project and in research on drug withdrawal times. He will speak on Model Rules, withdrawal times for therapeutic drugs, testing labs and drug testing procedures. Come armed with questions!

Dr. Waterman will speak from 10:15- 11:45AM & from 3:00-4:30pm.

DR. RICHARD S. MEIRS, VMD- Dr. Meirs is an equine practitioner and General Manager of Walnridge Farm and Equine Clinic in Cream Ridge, N.J. He received hid veterinary degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 1982. His practice specializes in racehorses, equine surgery, and equine reproduction. Walnridge Farm is a 350 acre farm operated by the Meirs family since 1830. They raise, prep and sell some of the top yearlings at public auction.

Rich is past president of the New Jersey Association of Equine Practioners, a Professor of Veterinary Pathology at Camden County College and a Director of the New Jersey Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association. He will focus his morning talk (10:15- 11:45 am) on lameness in racehorse and foal deformities.

His afternoon talk (3:00-4:30 pm) will focus on stallion and mare fertility and breeding. Bring questions. Dr. Meirs is prepared to discuss a wide variety of topics.