For Immediate Release
May 16, 2008
CONTACT: Steve Merritt
Public Information Officer
Montana Department of Livestock
406-444-9431
Sherman Takes Board of Horse Racing Reins
Montana native Ryan Sherman has taken the reins of the Montana Board of Horse Racing, which regulates horse racing within the state, as its new executive secretary and is now managing the board's day to day operations.
"I am honored to serve all stakeholders in the racing industry in Montana," Sherman said. "With new legislation in place aimed at helping the industry within the state, this is a very exciting time to be involved with racing."
The Great Falls native served as general manager and director of racing for Charlie Russell Downs in Great Falls, and as racing secretary at Yellowstone Downs in Billings in 2001. He then joined the American Quarter Horse Association in Amarillo, Texas, as racing information and simulcast coordinator, and was promoted to senior manager of the racing challenge program.
While in charge of the racing challenge, Sherman developed several new programs with quarter horse racing's richest racing series, including the addition of a South American division and the Challenge Supplemental Stakes series. The Supplemental Stakes, now named the John Deere Bonus Stakes, was developed to provide increased added-money stakes at smaller market tracks throughout the U.S., including Montana. Yellowstone Downs participated in the series in 2007 and will host another race this year.
Sherman most recently served as the assistant sale manager and All American Triple Crown Coordinator for Ruidoso Downs and the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sales Company in Ruidoso, New Mexico. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona Race Track Industry Program.
"I'm happy to be back in Montana and will work to see that racing flourishes here again," Sherman said. " I am committed to seeing that racing will continue to be an exciting part of Montana culture."
Joining Sherman on the Board of Horse Racing staff is Sherry Meador, a private attorney in Helena specializing in equine law, business planning and exempt organizations. Meador is a 1993 graduate of University of Montana School of Law, and has worked extensively with government relations and systems development. She was a member of the Governor's Horse Racing Taskforce that was established to evaluate past and future trends in horse racing and make recommendations regarding the economic development of Montana's horse racing industry.
The racing season in Montana got underway last weekend in Miles City, which features races again this weekend. Races are also scheduled in Great Falls and Billings in 2008.
Additional information, including a race schedule for 2008, track locations, simulcast locations and Board of Horse Racing members, can be found at the Board of Horse Racing web site at http://liv.mt.gov/liv/HorseRacing/index.asp, or by calling the Board of Horse Racing at 404/ 444-4287.
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