The Board of Directors of Texas H.O.R.S.E has hired horse racing industry executive Dan Fick of Granbury, Texas to the position of executive director effective January 1, 2013. The current executive director Val Clark is leaving Texas H.O.R.S.E. to pursue other career opportunities, and will be working closely with Dan to facilitate an efficient transition. During her 3 ½ year tenure at Texas H.O.R.S.E. since it’s inception, Ms. Clark has successfully positioned and effectively established Texas H.O.R.S.E. as the spokesperson and advocate for the horse industry in Texas, especially before the state government in Austin.
Dan Fick has been an executive administrator in the horse industry for 30 years, having served as the American Quarter Horse Association Executive Director of Racing from 1984-2003; the Executive Director for The Thoroughbred Jockey Club from 2003-2009; and the Director of Racing at Remington Park in Oklahoma City from 2011-2012.
“I look forward to working with all aspects of the horse industry to promote the best interests of Texas horsemen and women, and to substantially improve and expand their opportunities to breed, race, show and enjoy their horses in Texas.”
Texas HORSE is a non-profit association formed to preserve the $5.2 billion Texas Horse Industry which has been the #1 state in horses and horse enthusiasts in the U.S. The Texas HORSE board of directors consists of one representative from each of the eight founding Texas based horse organizations and one director at large. The immediate goal of Texas H.O.R.S.E. is to promote the passage of legislation in Austin to provide a competitive balance in this region to reverse the trend of Texas horse breeders and owners going to surrounding states to breed, race and show their horses. The Texas horse industry is losing horses, jobs, and money to neighboring states because their governments have provided better opportunities to Texas horsemen and women than are available at home in Texas. These opportunities exist only because surrounding states offer expanded gaming programs at their racetracks, which provide funds for increased purses and equine industry stimulation programs.
For more information about Texas H.O.R.S.E., contact Val Clark at 512-731-4637 and Dan Fick at 817-845-2917, and go to www.texas-horse.com or www.texashorseweb.com.