Gessmann elected president of National HBPA

Leroy Gessmann, the president of the Iowa Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, was elected president of the National HBPA at the organization’s summer convention last weekend in Denver, according to the organization.

Gessmann owned Sure Shot Biscuit, the only Iowa-bred millionaire in U.S. history, and Miss Macy Sue, who finished third in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. He is replacing Robin Richards, who stepped down after serving a three-year term.

During the legislative affairs forum at the convention, panelists discussed a recently introduced bill that would install the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency as the overseer of the sport’s medication policies and drug testing, according to a release from the National HBPA. Several affiliates of the organization have already stated their opposition to the bill, and the release indicated that the National HBPA will not take a stance in support of the legislation in its present state.

“Panelists pointed out USADA’s lack of experience with equine drug testing, especially that USADA did not do the testing for equine athletes during the Olympics, and raised questions about how the testing would be paid for,” the release said.

Although USADA oversees drug testing for human athletes in the U.S. Olympic training programs, oversight of the equestrian events is conducted by the U.S. Equine Federation. The bill states that USADA’s funding will be provided by a fee assessed to each starter, with individual state racing commissions responsible for determining the exact funding mechanism.