On behalf of the OTBO I would like to welcome our new board of directors for 2022-2025. I would also like to thank those members of our previous board who are not on this current board for their help and service to the Ohio racing community.
Below are brief bios on all of the current members. Once you read them, I think you will be extremely pleased that collectively they represent all aspects of Ohio racing. We have large and small breeders; a trainer; a rehab/retirement farm operator; a VP of the DRF; a bloodstock agent; people with ties to horse related youth organizations; members focused on the owner/racing end of the business; and people who cross over into multiple areas. Everyone has direct hands on experience in Ohio racing.
In 2023 and beyond we will be forming new committees to address our varied programs. All members are welcome to join these committees or help out in any way that they can. Please check the website in the coming weeks for announcements of these committees so you can decide if any are of interest to you.
I am extremely excited to welcome these new board members and continue the exciting work the OTBO is planning to enhance Ohio Racing and the positive opportunities our members can participate in and enjoy. Please feel free to reach out to me or any member with any questions or interests you might have.
Mike Annechino, Executive Director
OTBO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mike Jamison
I’ve been involved with owning thoroughbreds and primarily Ohio racing since 1990 and in that time have recruited several new owners to join me in various partnerships. I enjoy the challenges associated with racing and the people involved in the game. Following a long career in media sales and management, I had an opportunity to combine my horse racing passion with a new career path as the Vice President of Sales for the Daily Racing Form, a position I have held for the last four plus years that has afforded me the opportunity to work with various racetrack executives and industry stakeholders. I hope to bring my knowledge and industry connections to the OTBO and strengthen our regional and national reach.
Cathy Gale
My name is Cathy Gale. I have been a lifelong horse owner involved in many aspects of the horse industry. Starting as a youth in 4H to currently still being an Advisor/Superintendent within the 4H program. I am a Barrel Racer in the National Barrel Horse Association as well as Breeding, Raising, and Racing Thoroughbreds. With my husband Dan, we bred the 2020 Champion Accredited Female – Mobil Lady. Being involved with such an outstanding organization as OTBO for the past 7 years has made me want to take on a more active role. One of my goals is to bring more youth into the racing program to get them excited about racing and breeding thoroughbreds to help keep the Ohio program moving into the future. I would also like to help as many OTBO members as I can to further their farm’s advancement.
Kevin McIntyre
After graduating with a Bachelors Degree from Kent State University in 1994 I began a career in Law Enforcement. In 2008 I started my Property Management Company as a second stream of income. Upon retiring from Law Enforcement I began looking to fulfill a life long dream of owning a Thoroughbred Farm. Currently, I own and operate, in partnership with my girlfriend Jill Himes, Five Diamonds Equestrian Center, LLC which is situated on our 100 acre property known as Show Valley Farm located in Canal Fulton, Ohio. Jill and I purchased the farm, which was used as a Quarter Horse Breeding facility, in 2015. Updates and renovations to the pastures and barn were completed in 2017 at which time we walked our first horse thru the doors. The facility currently has space for 20 horses with capabilities to expand to 30 as we grow. We are a dedicated to Thoroughbred Racehorses both active and retired. We offer full care for retirements, layups, letdowns and tailored rehabs under the guidance of the Veterinary services of Cleveland Equine Clinic.
I began my dream of working with racehorses when I was 7-8 years of age while going to Thistledown, Beulah Park, and Waterford Park with my family. It was at these tracks I became enamored by the athleticism of the Thoroughbreds. I would often sneak out of the hotel room before dawn at Waterford during our summer vacations, to sit rail side and watch the horses train. As I grew older I visited many tracks across the country, and took a liking to Keeneland and the Lexington area in general. It was from these Kentucky visits the idea of bringing a piece of that Lexington heritage to Ohio was born. Fast forward to today, and that is exactly what I have been blessed to achieve. At our facility, the horse comes first. These athletes provide so much to so many of us in the industry, we feel obligated to give them everything possible in return while they are entrusted in our care. To date we have handled over 160 racehorses through our facility from as far as Southern California to Ontario Canada and all parts in between.
Outside the day to day operations with our clients and horses I maintain all the facilities at the farm as well as Hay production, Pasture Management and Supply Chain.
Sam Klein
I Started in the industry in 1991 at Mountaineer with 1 horse and bought my first horse for 750 dollars and won within several months…from that day on I was hooked on owning horses. For me, there is nothing like winning a race! I have since owned more than 100 horses and am a strong supporter of the Ohio Bred program. I have purchased multiple winning horses from the OTBO annual sale the past few years. I am looking forward to becoming more involved in helping all our members in every aspect of Ohio racing.
Michael Friedman
I have been a licensed owner since 1995 which gives me 27 years of involvement in this fantastic sport.
I have been fortunate enough to win close to 20 stakes races, and the Best of Ohio multiple times. I have been a strong supporter of Ohio racing through my horse ownership as well as my previous business endeavors. I am looking forward to helping the OTBO launch several new programs that provide direct assistance to people involved in Ohio racing that need a little “extra help”. Most importantly I have the knowledge and passion to serve on the OTBO board.
Steven Chumney
I am an Electrical Engineer from Stark County Ohio with a passion for farm life, hard work, and thoroughbred race horses. I have been around race horses my entire life, as my Grandfather (Gene Chumney) was a quarter horse and thoroughbred trainer. My love for farming began when I was 11 and got a job at a local farm, where I had a great role model in Roy Burfield. I am involved in several small businesses. I build business by being consistently authentic and relentlessly striving for excellence in everything that I do. I surround myself with honest people that have a lot of positive energy. Winning has been the result of this formula.
I focus my goals on excellent breeding, nutrition, and individualized care. I raise both Accredited and Ohio Registered foals. I feel that Ohio breds should be able to compete in the Graded Stakes race levels and see that as the target with each decision that I make. My home breds have sold at Fasig Tipton, Keeneland, and Ocala, where I have been very fortunate to have raised six figure weanlings, yearlings, and 2 yr. olds. I also sell horses privately and enjoy keeping some interest in horses that I raised as they go on to their race careers.
I would like to help the OTBO continue to improve the thoroughbred industry and aftercare in Ohio.
Tony Fischbach
I have been involved in the Ohio thoroughbred industry since 1996, starting as a small partner/investor in a nationwide syndicate until I started my own small Ohio-based syndicate in 1999 (Donnybrook Stables). After achieving instant success with my very first horse purchased under the Donnybrook colors (winning his first 4 starts), I was obviously hooked…and the partnership grew from there.
My experiences and involvement in Ohio racing expanded over time…from owning race horses on the Ohio circuit, to trying my hand at training (for 1 year), and expanding into the breeding side of the business in 2009. I eventually moved more towards the commercial side of the industry, where I find myself today as a bloodstock agent (with Donnybrook Bloodstock), helping other owners and investors create their thoroughbred success stories. My passion towards continuous education always drives me to try to learn more and more about thoroughbreds and every facet of the sport, as I know I am a constant student of this game. I do not think there is a part of the industry that I am not involved in to some degree. I always keep a couple mares for breeding purposes, and own small pieces of not only their offspring but also some others in training as well.
While this is certainly not a sport that comes without challenges, the highs in thoroughbred racing always find a way to outweigh the lows…and it’s those highs that will keep me coming back for more.
John Royer
I have been actively involved with thoroughbreds since the age of 24, although this attraction started during my teen years. I have raced horses in partnerships and syndications and has been fortunate enough to win graded stakes races in such places as Aqueduct, Santa Anita Park and Keeneland. The stakes winner at Aqueduct was a registered Ohio Bred! Since entering the industry, I have been actively involved with Ohio Thoroughbreds and bred and raced several Ohio Champions. With a business partner, we opened a small breeding farm in Williamsburg, Ohio where we commercially breed and sell Ohio bred horses each year. My main goal is to keep the Ohio Breeding and Racing programs one of the best in the country. Ohio Breeding and Racing is alive and well, but we still have many issues and challenges facing our industry. I look forward to continuing to work with the OTBO to help as many people as possible achieve their racing goals.
Brian Raimonde
I am a lifelong resident of Ohio and a graduate of The Ohio State University. I have been active in the Ohio Breeding program as a farm manager since 1998. In late 2005, I established Raimonde Farms, LTD, a 50 acre, multi-faceted operation located in Wooster, OH. Since then, I have personally become a breeder as well as an owner. We specialize in carefully selected matings, with our ultimate goal being to offer outstanding Ohio accredited as well as Ohio foaled prospects to potential owners. Currently we have 45 mares on the farm. We also choose a few to keep and race for the farm as well. I have bred or co-bred the stakes winners Blanconia and two-time Ohio sprint champion Diavoletto. I have also been closely involved with the breeding and foaling management of other stakes horses.
I am continuously working to improve bloodlines and strengthen both areas of the Ohio breeding program. Currently, Raimonde Farms LTD stands Drill, Botswana Taps, Hostile Takeover and the newly acquired Mr. Freeze. These quality stallions support the benchmark of the farm – the broodmare band. Thoughtfully chosen, these mares have produced the caliber of horses that will continue to cement longevity of racing in Ohio.
My loyalty to the Ohio program is apparent in the care and effort that I put into breeding, foaling, and raising future Ohio champions.
Dr. Steve DeMaiolo
I have been racing and breeding horses for more than 10 years and remain very active in this endeavor. I have been a proud participant and observer of the progress made by the Ohio Thoroughbred racing community and am looking forward to helping others participate as well. I am a retired physician and business owner. My breeding and racing accomplishments include Mo Dont No, Take Charge Delilah, Morestride, Alliseeisgold and Graded Stakes winner, StormoftheCentury. I have raced and sold horses at many tracks and venues across the country. I believe strongly in the purpose of the OTBO and look forward to contributing to it’s success.
Richard Zielinski
I’m from North Ridgeville, Ohio. I have owned and trained horses in Ohio for 30 years. The highlight of those years has been the opportunity to train Altissimo, a 3 time horse of the year. But I’m thankful for all of the opportunities I’ve had along the way. I have trained for a lot of good people, who have devoted a great deal to this sport
I served for 12 years as a board member of the Ohio HBPA. During that time that many positive changes were enacted that benefitted horse racing in Ohio.
I am now looking forward to being a member of the OTBO board and will do anything in my power to help our industry continue to move forward in a positive way.
Michael Annechino – Board Member, Executive Director
2022 marks my 42nd year of horse ownership. Over that time, I have campaigned more than 700 horses – so yes, I am more than crazy – and held licenses or raced in 28 states and 2 countries. The most expensive horse in the entire group was a horse I claimed for $14,500 in 1983 at TDN named George Morris. It only took me… 29 years… to win my first stake race (at Fort Erie against quarter horses in a Battle of the Breeds!) but since then, with the help of some tremendous trainers and big-hearted horses, we have won 14 more (12 in Ohio!) – all with horses we claimed for less than $8000 or bred in partnership with an Ohio breeder. I am a true “working man’s” owner who appreciates the tireless devotion and hard work that those who participate in racing dedicate to the sport we all love. In 2023 I am looking forward to completing the circle by breeding several of my retiring race mares in Ohio.
My passion for thoroughbred racing reaches well beyond the racetrack. The sport/business has a tremendous economic impact on the lives of everyone involved and the communities they live in. We face increasing competition and additional financial burdens from a variety of sources – different gambling options; real estate development and repurposing; rising costs; increased regulation; etc. that are threatening our very existence and viability.
As a Board Member and Executive Director of the OTBO, my goals are to improve overall awareness of our business; develop programs and opportunities that improve our members viability; strengthen all aspects of the Ohio Program; increase the number of participants involved in racing; and foster good working relationships with our 3 outstanding racetracks, the OHBPA, and the OSRC so that together we can do all we can to keep racing in Ohio alive and well long into the future.
Paul Devine
My name is Paul Devine & I am a thoroughbred breeder/owner from Marysville, Ohio. I did not grow up with horses or in a family that was involved in the industry. I took a trip to Keeneland when I was young immediately becoming enamored with the sport. Coming from an athletic background, I am amazed by the beauty & athleticism of our equine athletes. I spent the next few years networking with those involved in breeding/racing, reading & learning as much about the industry as I could.
Before my senior year of college, I was lucky enough to be employed by Brookdale Farm in Versailles, KY. I helped prep yearlings for the sales & also created a database for them to track horses they bred or sold. I then started helping racing & breeding partnership groups with social media marketing & partner communications. Using these connections, I have built numerous great relationships with industry professionals who have helped me start my journey into ownership through breeding & racing partnerships. I currently have multiple mares in Ohio & am a huge believer in the Ohio program!
I have attended numerous seminars & forums over the years to increase my knowledge of the sport & have also been featured in publications such as The Bloodhorse, The Thoroughbred Daily News, The Paulick Report, & Horse Racing Nation. I will continue to further my education within the industry & look forward to sharing that knowledge & passion with those involved in the Ohio program. I truly believe Ohio is heading in a great direction & we must continue to move forward to become one of the top regional programs in the country! I look forward to getting to know everyone & working together to achieve our goals.
