Cassidy began working with hunters and jumpers at a riding academy in Old Brookville, L.I., before shifting to New York tracks under trainers Joe Cantey and Frank Whiteley, the latter when he conditioned the legendary filly Ruffian in 1974 and 1975.

The image of Ruffian has always remained with Cassidy, who after moving to California in 1981, has made his biggest impact with fillies and mares.

Cassidy moved west to assist trainer Gerry Moerman and continued in similar capacities under Sid Martin, Darrell Vienna and Brian Mayberry before becoming a veterinarian's assistant for nine years on the Southern California circuit.

Cassidy took out his trainer's license in the mid 1990's and has made his mark on turf in recent years. In 2004, Cassidy won his first Grade 1 stake with English import Ticker Tape in the $750,000 American Oaks at Hollywood Park. The filly added a second Grade 1, the Queen Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Keeneland, later that year.

Another female English import, Katdogawn, secured three Grade 2 turf victories in 2004. In 2005, Singhalese--yet another filly from England--annexed the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks. In 2006, Cassidy won the Grade 1 Frank Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita with English-bred Milk It Mick. But an even bigger milestone was reached at Del Mar in 2006 when Moscow Burning, a 6-year-old mare, became the career earnings leader for California-bred females. Claimed for $25,000 in 2003, Moscow Burning passed Fran's Valentine to assume the top rung with earnings of more than $1.4-million.

"About ten years later, I sold two businesses and took out my training license." Anton has trained in Northern California ever since and currently conditions about a dozen head. "My favorite horse was Constantly Classy, a filly I owned, bred and trained," says Anton. "She won the (1998) Lassie Stakes at Bay Meadows, ten days after my dad died.

"Anton, a grandfather, lives in San Ramon. "I want to do what is good for racing," says Anton. "My motto is: if there is an item to be voted on and it benefits me, but if the other way benefits the masses, I will vote for the masses, because on the long run, it will benefit me. I'm not looking for a quick fix."

When his father shifted his training base to Santa Anita in 1969, Bellasis moved south with him and graduated from Arcadia High School. A graduate of Cal Poly Pomona in 1981, Bellasis moved to Northern California in 1984 and has lived in Pleasanton since 1990.

Bellasis generally has between 10 to 20 horses in training, mostly claimers which he owns. A brother, Richard Paul Bellasis, trains at Fairplex Park.

"I didn't like the way things were going on," explained Bellasis of his interest in the CTT post. "I'm pretty vocal about what I think is right and wrong. I was unhappy with the purse structure up here. I thought the fairs were telling cheaper horses they were unwelcome. I thought it was time to get off the stick and do something about it."

Carava has forged one of the most consistent stables on the Southern California circuit, averaging $1.5 million in purse earnings annually since 1996. Taking out his license in 1986, Carava has since saddled more than 800 winners and earned more than $22 million in purses.

The son of trainer Mike Carava, Jack was born on April 28, 1966. He began working on the backside for trainer Joe Griffin in 1984 and shifted to Jerry Fanning the following year.

Carava credited a lot of his early knowledge to Fanning, whom he assisted while also training a few horses on the side before going on his own in 1993.

Carava's breakthrough horse was First Intent, whom he claimed for $40,000 in 1995 and developed into a graded stakes winner. First Intent, as an 8-year-old in 1997, captured two Grade 2 sprints, the Potrero Grande Handicap at Santa Anita and the Bing Crosby Handicap at Del Mar.

Both races proved lucky for Carava. He won the Bing Crosby for a second time with another horse he claimed, Pure as Gold, who gave the trainer his first Grade 1 stakes win and richest purse, $300,000, in 2006. He won a second Potrero Grande in 2009 with Soul City Slew, a $50,000 claim.

Yet another claim, Epic Power for $40,000 in 2006, has turned into one of the leading California-bred grass horses in the state. The 8-year-old gelding has earned more than $500,000 since the claim, including victories in the 2006 California Cup Mile at Oak Tree and 2007 Khaled Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Another Cal-bred, the 3-year-old filly Beltene, won the $250,000 Sunshine Millions Oaks at Santa Anita in 2009.

Carava went exclusive at the end of last year with La Canada Stable, owned by Ron Valenta, for whom he trains 40 head. La Canada led the 2009 Santa Anita meet in owner wins with 24.

"I just felt the game had been good to me and I wanted to give back a little," said Carava of his CTT post. "I'd like to see workers' comp costs under control. That's a pet peeve of mine."

Carava lives in Glendora with his wife, Cindy, and daughters Brittany and Megan.

After graduation, she was a high school teacher and volleyball and basketball coach before taking out her thoroughbred trainer's license 30 years ago. She began training at Santa Rosa before shifting to the Bay Meadows-Golden Gate Fields circuit, where she now conditions about 20 horses. In recent years, she trained stakes winner Yerevan's Star and is also busy as a breeder, with two mares in Kentucky and three in Northern California.

Participation in a Northern California committee to gain Thoroughbred Owners of California voting rights in 2007 inspired her to seek a CTT directorship. "I want to see a continued dialogue among TOC, CTT and the rest of the industry to create a unified force to further our sport," she says. "I'm concerned about the safety of the horses and the condition of the tracks. I'm also in support of horse rehabilitation and retirement organizations."

Haley resides in Berkeley and owns a ranch in Sebastopol and is married to Dr. Donald Smith, a veterinarian. She has a son, Gavin, and two grandchildren.

Following a year working at Irish National Stud, Harty came to this country at 17. He worked as an assistant to John Russell and became chief assistant to Bob Baffert for seven years during his glory days before going on his own. In 2000, he joined Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum's Godolphin Racing, preparing 2-year-olds in the U.S. for the Dubai-based international operation's Darley Stud.

Harty made his first major impact in the 2001 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, sending out Tempera and Imperial Gesture to a one-two finish and earning an Eclipse Award for Tempera.

Other Grade 1 stakes winners were Dubai Escapade in the 2006 Ballerina at Saratoga and Colonel John in the 2008 Santa Anita Derby. He sent out Ruler's Court to a 14-length victory in the 2003 Norfolk Stakes, a race he also won in 2001 with Essence of Dubai.

Harty swept the San Antonio Handicap and San Diego Handicap in 2008 with Well Armed and has also won stakes with Forest Grove, Tizdubai, Sunray Spirit, Burmilla, Marietta, Lydgate, Zosima, Robador, Shamoan, Tiz Now Tiz Then and Desert Party.

Harty, born November 23, 1962, in Dublin, trains about 50 horses in a public stable at Santa Anita, including about 10 for Darley Stud. He lives in Arcadia with his wife, Kathy, and their son, Eddie, 16.

"I joined for the betterment of racing and its personnel," said Harty of his new CTT post. "A main concern is medical care for the employee and how it is funded. If you haven't got a healthy and happy employee, it doesn't benefit anybody."

Hendricks' starters have earned more than $22-million in purses. His most successful horse has been millionaire Brother Derek, who won the 2006 Santa Anita Derby after capturing the Norfolk Stakes and Hollywood Futurity in 2005. First Grade 1 stakes winner was Private Persuasion in the 1995 Vanity Handicap. Other major stakes winners include Stylish Star, Gray Slewpy, Smooth Player, Feverish, Bountiful Native, Blushing Heiress, Reba's Gold, Don'tsellmeshort, Runaway Dancer and Cozy Guy, winner of the 2004 California Cup Classic. "

I served a term in the HBPA--before we split into CTT and TOC," says Hendricks. "Like a lot of trainers, I just want to be involved in the decision-making and future of horse racing. I don't want to let others decide. CTT is very important in insurance and workmen's comp."

Single father of three sons--Christopher, Matthew, and Gregory--Hendricks lives in Glendora.

Born October 18, 1951, in St. Louis, Sise moved to California with his family at age 8 and settled on the same street in Arcadia as trainers Bill Molter, Ray Bell, and Jimmy Jordan.

Sise first worked at the track as a hot walker for Jordan at 11, was a jockey from 1967-70, riding primarily in Arizona and California fairs, and initially took out his trainer's license in 1970.

He left the sport for about a decade to run a catering business, but returned for a more successful period as a trainer. Since 1991, Sise has sent out about 700 winners and earned more than $18 million in purses.

Sise enjoyed his biggest year in 2007, when his barn earned $2,128,998. The star of the stable that year was Idiot Proof, a 3-year-old colt who gave Sise his first Grade 1 stakes victory in the Ancient Title at Oak Tree, set a Monmouth Park track record of 1:07.47 for six furlongs in winning the Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes and finished second to Midnight Lute in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Monmouth.

Idiot Proof was Sise's second Breeders' Cup Sprint runner-up. His previous most accomplished horse was Paying Dues, who finished second to Lit de Justice in the 1996 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Woodbine. Paying Dues won three stakes in 1996: the Los Angeles Handicap and Vernon Underwood Stakes, both Grade 3 at Hollywood Park; and the Oakland Handicap at Golden Gate Fields.

Sise, who trains about 25 horses on the Southern California circuit, looks forward to his new role with CTT. "Right now, we're just trying to keep things in line," said Sise of the myriad challenges the industry faces.

Sise and his wife, Lorrie, live in Glendora. They have two children: a daughter, Kim; and a son, Robert, a farrier.

Zucker continued on the New York-New Jersey-Florida circuit under Buddy Lepman and Willard Thompson and spent one winter in California as a groom for John Longden before taking out his trainer's license in New Jersey in 1976 and moving permanently to Southern California in 1981.

He first trained in California for Jerry Buss and currently lists C.T. Grether and John Harris as his leading clients. Zucker's most accomplished horse has been Crafty C.T., winner of the 2001 San Rafael Stakes and runner-up to Point Given in the 2001 Santa Anita Derby. He was stakes-placed seven times in graded stakes.

Zucker also conditioned Madame Pietra, a multiple stakes winner who captured the inaugural Sunshine Millions Fillies & Mares Sprint at Gulfstream Park in 2003. Other outstanding stakes horses include Our Shining Hour and Moscow Changes.

Born May 20, 1948, Zucker lives in Pasadena with his wife Lorraine. "After attending a horseman's meeting during the 1970s, I vowed never to have anything to do with racetrack politics," said Zucker. "But with the addition of Ed Halpern to CTT, I thought we might be able to do some good in the world."

Threewitt was the youngest trainer in North America when he took out his license at Caliente at age 21, was at the opening of the five major tracks in California and ranks as dean and historian of the Southern California colony.

During more than seven decades of training, Threewitt has sent out more than 2,000 winners, headed by Correlation, winner of the 1954 Florida Derby and Wood Memorial Stakes.

Other stakes winners include King of Cricket, Cuzwuzwrong, Debonaire Junior, Honeys Gem, Devoted Brass, Cerise Reine, Perizade, Speedy Edie, Mountain Glory, Try Sheep, Hula Blaze, Sea Eagle, Hairless Heiress, Old Topper and Theresa's Tizzy.

Threewitt led the trainer standings at Hollywood Park three straight years from 1959-61 and at Golden Gate Fields in 1970. A native of Benton, Illinois, he lives in San Gabriel with his wife, Beryl. He was the second recipient of the Laffit Pincay Jr. Award at Hollywood Park in 2005.

A long-time advocate of backstretch interests, Threewitt was a six-time president of the California Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association--forerunner of the CTT--and served 16 years as national HBPA vice president. He currently is president of the California Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation, which provides a Santa Anita clinic for medical, dental and optical services for backstretch workers.