Dr. Doug Daniels Re-Elected National HBPA President

National HBPA President Dr. Doug Daniels, left, and NHBPA CEO Eric Hamelback Friday night at Prairie Meadows. Photo by Michelle McShane Dr. Doug Daniels, a horse owner and equine veterinarian in Virginia, was re-elected by unanimous acclamation for a second three-year term as the National HBPA’s President and Chairman of the Board. Saturday’s [...]

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Dr. Doug Daniels, a horse owner and equine veterinarian in Virginia, was re-elected by unanimous acclamation for a second three-year term as the National HBPA’s President and Chairman of the Board.

Saturday’s election and meeting of the full board of the National Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association (NHBPA) ended the organization’s annual conference, which included three days of panel discussions and presentations at Prairie Meadows racetrack, casino and hotel.

“There was a lot more to do these last three years than I ever dreamt,” Daniels said after the meeting, a reference to the NHBPA and many of its affiliates’ legal challenges to the constitutionality of the legislation that created the Horseracing Integrity & Safety Authority (HISA) corporation. “I hope now, in the next three years, it will be a lot less contentious and a lot more meaningful from the standpoint of our horsemen looking forward to positive change. I look forward to doing all I can in the process.”

Heading Daniels’ agenda is working for passage of the Racehorse Health and Safety Act (RHSA), introduced last Sept. 26 by Congressman Clay Higgins of Louisiana. The RHSA would replace HISA with a system that accomplishes the same goals but with full transparency, much more input by horsemen, science-based regulations and with a far cheaper price tag.

“The top priority is getting the RHSA accepted and in play, getting people behind it,” Daniels said. “Getting more people behind the HBPA, instead of the contention that has existed the last couple of years. There are a lot of people behind the scenes who are very much in favor of what we’re doing, but they feel forced to play the politics and not their conscience.”

Daniels is a member of HISA’s Horsemen’s Advisory Group.

“I’m one of the last members of the original group to phase out,” he said. “Would I get renominated? I don’t know. Right now there seems to be a lack of representation for the small-time horsemen, and I think it’s getting a little more so. All the new appointees are fabulous people and fabulous horsemen. But they don’t represent the same segment of the industry that I might, including the segment that can’t afford HISA.”

Daniels also was unopposed when he was elected National HBPA President for the first time in 2020. National HBPA CEO Eric Hamelback said Daniels being not only a horse owner but a veterinarian has proved invaluable, especially in the current environment.

“In these challenging times, I can’t overstate the importance of Dr. Daniels being our National President and Chairman of the Board and also being a practicing equine veterinarian,” Hamelback said. “His knowledge and understanding of equine sports medicine is really integral in how the National HBPA has been navigated as we stand up to make our industry better, safer and more fair for everyone — our equine and human participants alike.

“On top of it, he’s just a great guy.”

Daniels said he’s able to be a much better president because of Hamelback.

“None of this could happen without the guy who’s carrying the water,” he said. “It’s a thankless job. It’s his efforts that keep the group together and cohesive.

“But what too many people don’t get is that, while Eric agrees with what we’re doing, he takes total direction from our board of directors. He is, however, a tremendous resource for the board and for me with his incredible passion and knowledge of the entire industry, top to bottom and how it interrelates. He really deserves more accolades and appreciation from the industry than he gets. I’m not the only one who feels this way, but it’s easy for me to say this man is the driving force behind our efforts.”

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