The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association has appointed D.G. Van Clief Jr. chairman of the Sales Integrity Program Monitoring Committee.

The monitoring committee is charged with overseeing and determining the effectiveness of the Sales Integrity Task Force’s recommendations that were issued in November 2007.

The new policies include a ban on exogenous anabolic steroids for 45 days prior to a sale for weanlings and yearlings, a voluntary ownership registry, voluntary disclosure of medical information, an updated list of prohibited practices, and a code of conduct for all participants in public auctions.

Van Clief is currently the chairman of Fasig-Tipton Co. and was the former president of Breeders’ Cup Ltd. and commissioner of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.

“We are honored that D.G. has accepted the responsibility of leading this important industry initiative,” said Dan Metzger, president of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. “His leadership skills, along with his integrity standards, make him the ideal person to lead this committee.”

“Nothing is more important to our markets than integrity and the confidence which that integrity will engender,” Van Clief said. “This committee is fortunate to have the services of important industry leaders and the organizations they represent. The group will take a diligent, dynamic approach to monitoring and, when necessary, recommending changes to the policies which were developed by the Sales Integrity Task Force last year and which are being implemented by sales companies presently.”

The task force’s recommendations were implemented at the recently concluded Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July yearling sale. The new conditions of sale also will be in effect at the upcoming Keeneland September yearling sale.

In addition to Van Clief, the other members of the monitoring committee are:

Jimmy Bell (Darley USA)
Reynolds Bell Jr. (Reynolds Bell Thoroughbred Services)
Bill Casner (WinStar Farm)
Nick Nicholson (Keeneland Association)
J. Michael O’Farrell (Ocala Stud Farm)
Frank Penn (Pennbrook Farm)
Fred Sarver (American Saddlebred Horse Association)
Samantha Siegel (Jay Em Ess Stable)
John Sikura (Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm)
Bayne Welker (Mill Ridge Farm)

The Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association has launched a new website for the Sales Integrity Program at www.salesintegrity.org.