Review Category : Announcement

Trainer Thomas Bell Jr. Passes at Age 93

By DRF.com ARCADIA, Calif. – Former Southern California trainer Thomas Bell Jr. died Friday from complications of a recent fall, according to his son, trainer Ray Bell. Thomas Bell was 93. Born in Brooklyn, Thomas Bell hailed from a racing family. His father, Thomas Bell Sr., trained and was later a bloodstock agent. Thomas Bell Jr. began training in 1951 and trained such prominent runners as Barberstown, Rumbo, and Silver Eagle. “He dedicated his life to the business,” Ray Bell said Sunday. Rumbo won a division of the Santa Catalina Stakes at Santa Anita in February 1980 and was later second in the Santa Anita Derby and Hollywood Derby in early spring before finishing second to the famous filly Genuine Risk in the Kentucky Derby. Later that year, Rumbo won the Golden State Breeders Sires Stakes at Hollywood Park and the Lawrence Realization Stakes at Belmont Park. Silver Eagle won the 1979 Carleton Burke Handicap at Santa Anita, beating John Henry. The following year, Silver Eagle won the San Luis Obispo Handicap at Santa Anita. Barberstown... ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB PLEASANTON, Calif. (June 17, 2022) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a public meeting in Pleasanton at the Alameda County Fairgrounds on Thursday, June 16, 2022. The public participated in person and also listened to the meeting through an audio link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, and Thomas Hudnut. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: The Board continued setting the stage for the July 1 arrival of federal oversight of horse racing, first by authorizing staff to institute a concussion protocol to comply with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) and the voluntary implementation agreement. Executive Director Scott Chaney reported that baseline concussion assessments of all jockeys in California are in the process of being conducted by Dr. David Seftel, the track physician at Golden Gate Fields, who is a concussion expert. The Board... ...

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Retired Trainer Tim Arterburn Passes at 62

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (June 17, 2022) — Condolences to the family of retired trainer Tim Arterburn, who passed away recently at age 62. The son of former jockey and trainer Jack Arterburn, Tim was primarily based in Northern California, as was his father and brother, trainer Lonnie Arterburn, who bred Hall of Fame gelding Lava Man along with Kim Kuhlman.  Tim Arterburn’s sister Tami, is married to retired HOF jockey Russell Baze. ...

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Purse Boost for Pair of Golden State Stakes

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (June 6, 2022)—Santa Anita’s 18-day Autumn Meet, which opens Friday, Sept. 30, will be highlighted by a total of 26 stakes, 15 of them graded.  Overnight purses remain the same as last year.  Most all stakes purses are the same as in 2021, with the following exceptions.  Both the Golden State Juvenile and the Golden State Juvenile Fillies have had their purses increased from $150,000 to $175,000, while the Unzip Me and the Anoakia now have purses of $85,000—up from $75,000 last year.  Additionally, two restricted stakes, the Swingtime and the Lure, now offer purse money of $80,000, up $10,000 each. A total of four California-bred Stakes, the California Distaff ($125,000) on Oct. 15; the California Flag ($125,000) on Oct. 16; the Golden State Juvenile ($175,000) on Oct. 29 and the Golden State Juvenile Fillies ($175,000) on Oct. 29, will again provide local owners and breeders’ ample added money opportunities through closing day, Nov. 6. The 2022 Autumn Meet Stakes Schedule will include five... ...

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Women’s Summit at Santa Anita Sept. 28-30

From TOC ARCADIA, Calif. (June 4, 2022) — The inaugural Horse Racing Women’s Summit (HRWS) has been confirmed for September 28-30 at Santa Anita Park. The multi-day event aims to bring together people from all facets of the horse racing industry with the mission of connecting and empowering women in horse racing. To that tune, Susan Packard, an entrepreneur and co-founder of popular TV channels like CNBC, HGTV and Food Network, has been announced as the keynote speaker for this exciting new event. Originally a vision of Stephanie Hronis, the Committee Chair for the Horse Racing Women’s Summit, the event started out as an idea to connect women in California, but when it quickly gathered national attention, the decision to expand was obvious. The HRWS planning committee now has bi-coastal representation and is being designed to embrace a national group of participants. “On behalf of our Horse Racing Women’s Summit planning team, we are excited to offer this summit and honored to have Susan Packard as our keynote speaker for this... ...

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Autumn Ship & Win Details Announced

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (May 25, 2022)—In a continuing effort to attract out of state horses, Santa Anita Park has announced details of its 2022 Autumn Meet “Ship & Win” program.  The upcoming Autumn Meet will offer fans and horsemen at total of 26 stakes, 15 of them graded, beginning opening weekend, Oct. 1 & 2, through closing day Nov. 6.  With the 39th Breeders’ Cup World Championships scheduled to be run at Keeneland Race Course Nov. 4 & 5, Santa Anita will present five Breeders’ Cup “Win & You’re In” Challenge Race qualifiers over the first two weekends. 2022 AUTUMN MEET SHIP & WIN REQUIREMENTS                 –In order for a specific horse to be eligible for program bonuses, they must have made their most recent start outside of California and not have started in the Golden State within the past 12 months.                 –Horses that qualify for eligibility via Del Mar’s Summer Ship & Win program retain eligibility for one start at Santa Anita providing they not start... ...

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NTRA Annual Report Available Online

From NTRA WASHINGON, D.C. (May 25, 2022) — The NTRA’s 2021 Legislative Annual Report is now available online. Click here to view the report. Features of the 2021 Legislative Annual Report include: A federal legislative review and update of issues that are important to the Thoroughbred industry  A list of 2021 contributors to the NTRA’s Legislative Action Campaign through the ¼% Check-off Program and other related NTRA fundraising programs  Sale company calendars  Member discount information from NTRA partners like John Deere, Big Ass Fans, Sherwin-Williams, ODP Business Solutions and Farmers Insurance Thank you to all who supported the NTRA’s federal legislative effort in Washington, DC, by giving to the ¼% Check-off Program, the Foal Program, the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) Tour or through a direct contribution. Please share this report with others who have an interest in Thoroughbred racing and breeding and share your enthusiasm for our industry. With Appreciation, Joe Bacigalupo Vice President of Membership Development ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 20, 2022) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a public meeting Thursday, May 19, 2022, at Cal Expo in Sacramento, which could be heard through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, Thomas Hudnut, and Wendy Mitchell. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: The Board addressed several issues pertaining to horse and jockey welfare, including the establishment of a concussion protocol for jockeys, as will be required under HISA (Horseracing Safety and Integrity Act/Authority) effective July 1, 2022. The CHRB will provide HISA officials with its suggested protocol. Once accepted, HISA will be responsible for enforcement (e.g. dictating if and when a jockey can resume riding). The Board accepted recommendations from the Jockeys’ Guild pertaining to minimum and maximum weights. CHRB staff will develop proposed rules for Board consideration. Vice Chair... ...

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NTRA Pleased with Added H-2B Visas

From NTRA LEXINGTON, KY. (May 17, 2022) – The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) commends the decision announced by the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Labor (DOL) to make an additional 35,000 H-2B visas available for the second half of FY-2022. “We thank DHS, DOL, and the Administration for recognizing the critical need for additional H-2B visas to fill positions not being filled by US workers,” said NTRA President & CEO Tom Rooney. “This announcement will help provide immediate relief for tracks and horse trainers going into the summer racing season. While the release of additional H-2B visas is good news for the industry, the NTRA will continue to advocate for more comprehensive immigration reform in the future.” The supplemental H-2B visa allocation is for U.S. employers seeking to employ additional workers on or after April 1, 2022 through September 30, 2022. This announcement makes 23,500 visas available to returning workers who received an H-2B visa or were otherwise granted H-2B status during one of the last three fiscal years.... ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Apr. 22, 2022) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a public meeting in Sacramento at Cal Expo on Thursday, April 21, 2022. This was the first in-person meeting of the Board since February 20, 2020. All Board meetings for the last two years were conducted via teleconference due to the pandemic. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, Thomas Hudnut, and Wendy Mitchell. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: • Executive Director Scott Chaney gave a comprehensive report on the status of HISA (Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act), which is shifting much safety and medication control oversight from states to the federal government. The first shift involving racing safety will occur July 1. Procedurally, each state regulatory body must either opt in or opt out of collecting and remitting fees for the program. If a state racing... ...

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Burke Library Moving to Cal Poly Pomona

ARCADIA, Calif. (Apr. 21, 2022) — The California Thoroughbred Foundation is donating the contents of the Carleton F. Burke Library in Arcadia— one of the most extensive collections of equine literature found anywhere—to California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. “This is such a rare and specialized collection that it is a great match with an academic library,” said Foundation President Ada Gates Patton. “Officials from Cal Poly Pomona approached us about acquiring the library, with proposed expert management of books and increased public access.  “The Foundation does not have resources like those at Cal Poly. In addition, with more and more material available on the Internet, in-person use of the library decreased in recent years, followed by a two-year closure because of the pandemic. So after studying the proposal carefully, our board voted for the donation. This will benefit anyone interested in publications about horses, whether for serious study or just pleasure reading.” The university intends to digitize research books for worldwide access, exposing the Burke Library to a far wider... ...

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Bertrando Stakes at Los Alamitos June 25

From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. (Apr. 18, 2022) — The $100,000 Bertrando Stakes for California-breds is one of three stakes races scheduled for the Los Angeles County Fair meet at Los Alamitos. The Bertrando is for 3-year-olds & up bred or sired in California. The one-mile race – which honors the multiple graded stakes winner, champion older male of 1993 and champion California stallion – will be run Saturday, June 25. The 10-day season is scheduled to begin Friday, June 24 and continue through Sunday, July 10. Racing will be conducted Friday-Sunday opening weekend (June 24-26) and the final week (July 8-10) and Friday-Monday (July 1-4) the middle week. The Monday July 4 program is a special holiday card and will include a handicapping contest with two berths in the 2023 NTRA National Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas on the line. Post time will be 1 p.m. each day. The richest event on the calendar is the Grade II, $200,000-guaranteed  Great Lady M. Stakes for fillies & mares at... ...

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Former Contributor Ellen Parker Passes

From Hinton Turner Funeral Home PARIS, Ky. (Apr. 9, 2022) — Ellen Parker, a former contributor to California Thoroughbred and a 17-year resident of Paris, Kentucky, passed peacefully on the evening of Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at Baptist Health Lexington.  Born in Saint Marys, Ohio, to loving parents Bill and Carol Koenig, Ellen developed her early love for horses into a lifelong obsession after seeing Round Table race at Arlington Park in Chicago in 1956. Ellen’s career started at Golden Gate Fields in Northern California as an assistant publicist, and she went on to become a turf writer and racing editor. Ellen is well-known for her pedigree analyst work on thoroughbred bloodlines, and with her husband she began the monthly newsletter Pedlines, which she considered one of her greatest achievements. Ellen also wrote a non-fiction book on the famed Round Table as well as consulted on a documentary regarding thoroughbred racing. A longtime member of the National Turf Writers & Broadcasters, Ellen wrote for or served as an editor for... ...

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Former Trainer R.M. Penton Passes at 80

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Mar. 11, 2022) — Turf Paradise-based trainer Clay Brinson reports former trainer R.M. Penton, a former longtime assistant to legendary “King Richard” Hazelton, passed away in Phoenix this past Saturday at age 80.  Penton was best known locally for his work in association with Cal-bred male 2-year-old champion Individual Style. ...

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Jockey Club’s 2022 Fact Book Now Online

From The Jockey Club The Jockey Club announced today that the 2022 edition of the Fact Book is available in the Resources section of its website at jockeyclub.com.   The online Fact Book is a statistical and informational guide to Thoroughbred breeding, racing, and auction sales in North America and is updated quarterly. It also features a directory of Canadian, international, national, and state organizations. Links to the Breeding Statistics report that is released by The Jockey Club each September and the Report of Mares Bred information that is published by The Jockey Club each October can be found in the Breeding section of the Fact Book.   The 2022 editions of State Fact Books, which feature detailed breeding, racing, and auction sales information specific to numerous states, Canadian provinces, and Puerto Rico, are also available on The Jockey Club website. The State Fact Books are updated monthly.   In 2021, The Jockey Club took over the production of The American Racing Manual from the Daily Racing Form, and the latest edition will... ...

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Hudnut Joins Castellanos on CHRB

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Mar. 1, 2022) — Damascus Castellanos, 55, of Pico Rivera, has been reappointed to the California Horse Racing Board, where he has served since 2020. Castellanos has been Secretary-Treasurer for Teamsters Local 495 since 2012. He was a Business Representative for Teamsters Local 630 from 2001 to 2012. Castellanos is a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Castellanos is a Democrat. Thomas C. Hudnut, 74, of Beverly Hills, has been appointed to the California Horse Racing Board. Hudnut has been an Educational Consultant with Resource Group 175 since 2013. He was President and Chief Executive Officer of Harvard-Westlake School from 1987 to 2013. Hudnut was Headmaster at the Branson School from 1982 to 1987. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Hudnut is a Democrat. ...

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TOC Announces Owner Awards for 2021

From TOC ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 28, 2022) – The Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) has announced the winners of its 2021 statistical awards for leading California owners. Reddam Racing was leading owner in total purse earnings; Tommy Town Thoroughbreds LLC led all owners by number of California wins as well as most California starts; and Baoma Corporation was leading owner for most California stakes wins.   Reddam Racing runners earned a total of $2,479,544 in California last year, with 36 wins from 246 starts. Their top runners included Team Merchants, winner of the Let It Ride S. at Del Mar, Los Alamitos Futurity winner Slow Down Andy, Tonito’s, Awake at Midnyte, Eddie’s New Dream, Homehome, Go On, and Hockey Dad.   Tommy Town Thoroughbreds had 52 wins from 253 California starts, for total earnings of $1,461,335. Their top runners included Stalking Shadow, winner of the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields, Keeper Ofthe Stars, Stanford Bay, Dynasty of Her Own, I Am Yours, and Uncorked.   Baoma Corporation had an impressive eight stakes wins in 2021.... ...

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Lakerball Sale Benefits Shepherd’s House

By Bloodhorse.com LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 10, 2022) — Stakes-winning California-bred mare Lakerball  entered the ring with a special announcement Feb. 9 at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale—100% of the proceeds of her sale would go to Shepherd’s House, a recovery program in Lexington.  Lakerball, consigned as Hip 354 by James Keogh’s Grovendale consignment, hammered at $35,000. The broodmare prospect was purchased by Randwick Bloodstock Agency. “Just very, very pleased with her. Shepherd’s House is doing great work in downtown Lexington and they’re a yearlong treatment program and they’re having amazing success,” Keogh said, “so I think it behooves all of us to support them a little bit. I’ve had several friends that have gone through the program and done really, really well because of it. It’s just something that I really have a heart for. “I’m thrilled and delighted that she sold that well.” Shepherd’s House focuses on creating an atmosphere conducive to recovery and establishing fellowship that will lead to a successful reentry into the community, the program’s website notes.... ...

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Additional H-2B Visas Available by March 31

From NTRA WASHINGTON, D.C. (Jan. 28, 2022) — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) have agreed to offer 20,000 additional H-2B visas to employers for positions starting on or before March 31, 2022. These visas are used by employers, such as racehorse trainers, who seek seasonal guest workers. “This addition of H-2B visas is helpful for the horse racing industry, as we continue to see high demand for workers by employers,” said NTRA President and CEO Tom Rooney. “At the same time, the NTRA supports relief from the burdensome annual H-2B visa cap to enable affected employers to stabilize their businesses through a permanent returning worker exemption. We urge both departments to permanently reform the program.”   DHS is also providing additional flexibilities to H-2B petitioners under its general programmatic authority by allowing nonimmigrant workers in the United States in valid H-2B status and who are beneficiaries of non-frivolous H-2B, to begin work with a new employer after an H-2B petition is filed... ...

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Claiming Race Purse Boost at Golden Gate

By DRF.com ALBANY, Calif. (Dec. 23, 2021) — Coming off a resounding fall meet closing weekend with more than $8 million in wagers, Golden Gate Fields kicks off its 2021-2022 season with an 11-race card Sunday. The first thing horsemen will notice is an across-the-board increase of $3,000 to purses in all claiming races, with the increases ranging from 12 to 30 percent. “This is good for the trainers, and we need to keep horses here,” said racing secretary Patrick Mackey, who noted tracks such as Turf Paradise had increased purses and attracted some locally based horses there. Coming off a meeting where the average field size was 7.1 runners, Mackey hopes that the purse increase will lead to bigger fields. The opening-day races average 7.5 runners per race. Mackey is also pleased with the quality of racing, which seems to be improving, with local runners more than holding their own with Southern California runners at all levels, including stakes. Once again, the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby will... ...

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U.S. Offering Additional H-2B Visas

From NTRA WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 20, 2021) — The National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) is pleased to report that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) today announced the forthcoming publication of a joint temporary final rule to make available an additional 20,000 H-2B visas for the first half of fiscal year 2022 that ends on March 31, 2022. This is the first time the DHS has provided supplemental H-2B visas in the first half of a fiscal year.   “Tremendously high demand for H-2B visas has led to this unprecedented move by the DHS and DOL,” said NTRA President and CEO Alex Waldrop. “Competition for these visas has been fierce for many years but is particularly so in today’s strong job market. We encourage affected trainers to act quickly.”   The supplemental H-2B visa allocation consists of 13,500 visas available to returning workers who received an H-2B visa, or were otherwise granted H-2B status, during one of the last three fiscal years. The remaining... ...

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Jockey Club Increases Foal Registration Fees

From The Jockey Club LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 17, 2021) — The Jockey Club announced today that it will be increasing each category of registration application fees by $20 starting in 2022. The last fee increase for registration applications was introduced with the 2013 foal crop. The updated fee schedule is as follows: If all requirements are met within one calendar year from foaling date, foals of 2021 — $225. If all requirements are met within one calendar year from foaling date, foals of 2022 — $245. If all requirements are met by Dec. 31 of yearling year — $570. If all requirements are met by Dec. 31 of 2-year-old year — $820. If all requirements are met after Dec. 31 of 2-year-old year — $2,045. No other registry-related fees have been changed. ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Dec. 16, 2021) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Wednesday, December 15. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, Wendy Mitchell, and Alex Solis. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: The Board narrowly approved the requested six-month license for the Pacific Racing Association to operate a thoroughbred race meet at Golden Gate Fields (GGF) with racing beginning December 26, 2021, and concluding June 12, 2022. Equine fatalities have remained relatively the same as the last calendar year at GGF. However, four fatalities have occurred since November 14. Consequently, three members of the Board – Vice Chair Gonzales and Commissioners Washington Davis and Mitchell – preferred a shorter three-month license, during which time the CHRB could... ...

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Glen Ellen, Berg Facing Challenges

From Glen Ellen Vocational Academy GLEN ELLEN, Calif. (Dec. 1, 2021) — The Glen Ellen Vocational Academy, Northern California’s oldest horse retirement and rehabilitation facility, has overcome so many daunting challenges — from severe drought to threatening wildfires and a global pandemic — since its founding 26 years ago. The non-profit foundation has survived despite rounds of increases in the cost of veterinarian care, feed, hay and other farm supplies. But the picturesque 8 1/2-acre ranch, nestled in the rural Sonoma Valley hills near Jack London State Park in the heart of the Sonoma County wine region, could be facing its biggest obstacle yet. The farm’s 77-year-old founder and proprietor Pamela Berg is struggling to regain her strength following recent hospitalization with a bout of sepsis, which developed from an infection. Berg, who has faithfully maintained the facility and handled the daily care for GEVA’s equine residents — mostly retired Thoroughbreds — with minimal volunteer assistance, is slowly recovering. But she is too weakened by her illness to perform the... ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Nov. 18, 2021) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Wednesday, November 17. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Brenda Washington Davis, Wendy Mitchell, and Alex Solis. The full audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: ·        Alan Balch, the executive with California Thoroughbred Trainers who is spearheading the formation of a broadly based industry committee designed to develop regulations and procedures to further decrease equine injuries, reported there is widespread interest among all elements of California horse racing. He said the full committee and the smaller steering committee are in the process of being formed. Balch promised to give the Board reports every one or two months. “I hope to have something very concrete by February,” he added. ·        The Board approved two license applications for racing at Los... ...

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Santa Anita Adds F&M Starter Series

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 16, 2021)–Santa Anita Park has announced that beginning Jan. 17, it will offer a lucrative series of eight starter allowance races for fillies and mares on turf.  The Santa Anita Turf Starter Series will be comprised of four sprints and four routes at distances of five furlongs on up to a marathon turf event at a mile and one half. Patterned after last season’s successful Tin Man Starter Allowance Series, fillies and mares which have started for a claiming tag of $25,000 or less beginning in 2020 through entry time, are eligible.  In addition to regular purse money, points will be awarded on a graduated scale to the first four finishers in each race, with 10 to the winner, six for second, three for third and one point to the fourth place runner. At the end of the eight-race series, separate monetary awards will be given to owners of horses in both the sprint and route components of the series.  Owners with the most points... ...

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Applications Open for Jockey Club Scholarships

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 29 2021) — The Jockey Club announced today that applications are open for its five academic scholarships. The scholarships will apply to the 2022-2023 academic year and are as follows: –       The Jockey Club Scholarship ($15,000; $7,500 per semester) is for students in academic pursuit of majors for future employment in the equine industry. Open to any equine breed or discipline; preference will be given to candidates with the expressed desire to secure employment in the Thoroughbred industry. –       The Jockey Club Advancement of Women in Racing Scholarship ($20,000; $10,000 per semester) is open to women pursuing a career in the equine industry who are enrolled full time as an undergraduate or graduate student at a college or university. Open to any equine breed or discipline; preference will be given to candidates with the expressed desire to secure employment in the Thoroughbred industry. –       The Jockey Club Vision Scholarship ($20,000; $10,000 per semester) is open to students from a minority racial or ethnic group who are pursuing a career in... ...

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Bay Area Broadcaster Sam Spear Passes at 72

By Bloodhorse.com DANVILLE, Calif. (Oct. 24, 2021) — Bay Area media legend Sam Spear passed away Oct. 23 at age 72 following a lengthy illness. Spear, born Nov. 3, 1948, in Oakland and raised in Alameda, was a lifelong horse racing fan. After graduating from St. Joseph’s Alameda and San Francisco State, he quickly became a major fixture at Thoroughbred racetracks throughout Northern California. Spear was employed in the racing industry for over four decades. He served as media relations director at Golden Gate Fields and Bay Meadows, assisting media personnel, horsemen, front side staff, owners, breeders, horseplayers, and fans. Spear thoroughly enjoyed helping others and was devoted to creating the best possible experience for those he encountered on and off the track. His affable personality quickly made him a “fan favorite” among fans and horsemen, and he was often seen chatting it up with turf club patrons and railbirds alike. A close friend and confidant of legendary San Francisco native Joe DiMaggio, Spear often drove “Joe D.” to and from both Bay Meadows... ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Oct. 21, 2021) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Wednesday, October 20. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, Wendy Mitchell, and Alex Solis. First, the CHRB apologizes for the interruptions in the audio through the webcast link. These were caused by technical difficulties that have since been corrected. The full audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: The Medication, Safety, and Welfare Committee met Tuesday to discuss the advisability of penalizing trainers for injuries and fatalities for horses in their care. Alan Balch, executive director of the California Thoroughbred Trainers, gave a lengthy report based on extensive conversations he and CTT board members had with trainers across the state. Chairman Ferraro, who also chairs the committee, provided... ...

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Thomas Rooney Named CEO of NTRA

From NTRA LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 21, 2021) – Former US Congressman Thomas J. (Tom) Rooney has been named the successor to Alex Waldrop as the president and chief executive officer of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), it was announced today by the NTRA Board of Directors. As announced earlier this year, Waldrop will retire at the end of 2021.   A Thoroughbred owner and breeder who hails from one of America’s great sporting families, Rooney has taken an active role for several years in his family’s Shamrock Farm, a Thoroughbred breeding and lay-up operation in Woodbine, Maryland, founded by his grandfather, including serving on the board of the Maryland Horse Breeders Association since 2020.   “It is a great privilege for me to join the NTRA and serve as the organization’s next leader,” said Rooney. “Having been immersed in horse racing my entire life, I know the issues and have a solid understanding of the needs of the industry. Coupled with my ten years serving as a Member of... ...

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Pair of Cal-bred Stakes at Los Al Winter Meet

From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. (Sept. 27, 2021) — Two stakes restricted to Golden State Series-eligible 2-year-olds are included in the schedule for the upcoming Winter Thoroughbred meet at Los Alamitos. The season is scheduled to begin Friday, Dec. 3 and continue through Sunday, Dec. 12. The $100,000 Soviet Problem – for fillies – will be offered Saturday, Dec. 11 while the $100,000 King Glorious will be run Sunday, Dec. 12. Both are for 2-year-olds bred or sired in California and will be run at one mile. Also for 2-year-olds, the schedule includes the $300,000-guaranteed Starlet, a Grade I for 2-year-old fillies, renewed for the eighth time at Los Alamitos Saturday, Dec. 4, one week before the $200,000 Grade II Los Alamitos Futurity. Won a year ago by the Bob Baffert-trained Varda, the Starlet – like the Futurity – will be contested at 1 1/16 miles. Among the nominees to the Starlet are impressive Del Mar Debutante winner Grace Adler, Dance to the Music, Elm Drive and Eda. Nominees... ...

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Racing Official Peter Tunney Passes at 83

By DRF.com PIEDMONT, Calif. (Sept. 26, 2021) — Peter Tunney, the longtime racing executive at Golden Gate Fields in Northern California, died Wednesday after a lengthy illness, his family and friends said Thursday. Tunney, 83, died at his home in Piedmont, Calif., not far from Golden Gate Fields. The son of a racing official and steward, Tunney began his involvement in racing in the 1960s, working as a racing official at Southern California tracks, including Del Mar where he was the racing secretary for three years from 1972-74. Tunney was best known for a lengthy involvement in the day-to-day operations at Golden Gate Fields, joining as general manager in 1980 and later serving as an executive vice president before his retirement in 2017. :: Bet the races with confidence on DRF Bets. You’re one click away from the only top-rated betting platform fully integrated with exclusive data, analytics, and expert picks. A graduate of Alhambra High School in Southern California, Tunney had a sporting background, running track and playing halfback... ...

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Four Cal-bred Stakes at Bing Crosby Meet

DEL MAR, Calif. (Sept. 26, 2021) – Four stakes restricted to Golden State Series eligibles will be held at Del Mar’s Bing Crosby Fall Season. On Friday, Nov. 5 – the first day of the Breeders’ Cup Championships – the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Stakes for 2-year-olds and the $175,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies Stakes for 2-year-old filles will be held, both races at seven furlongs. On Sunday, Nov. 7, the $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes for fillies and mares 3 years and up will be run at seven furlongs. On Sunday, Nov. 21, the $100,000 Cary Grant Stakes for 3 years and up will be run at seven furlongs. ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Wednesday, September 15. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, and Wendy Mitchell. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: The Board allocated dates for all of California racing in 2022. The allocations reflect the recent and historical dates run by racing associations and fairs with two notable exceptions. Santa Anita will close for as many as two weeks in the middle of its winter-spring meet. Del Mar will shift its traditional schedule by one week with later opening and closing dates. Date allocations permit the tracks to operate on the dates they choose within their timeframes. The actual dates of planned operation will be announced and considered by the Board when each... ...

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Downhill Racing Returns to Santa Anita

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 8, 2021)–Santa Anita Park’s 16-day Autumn Meet will get off to a fast start on Friday, Oct. 1, as a total of four stakes will be offered on a tremendous nine-race card.  The Grade I, $300,000 American Pharoah Stakes, one of three Breeders’ Cup “Win & You’re In” Challenge Race qualifiers, will headline the day’s racing.  Named for the 2015 Triple Crown Champion, the American Pharoah is a Breeders’ Cup Win & You’re In qualifier to the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar on Nov. 5. With first post time at 1 p.m., walk-up admission is welcomed, with free admission and General Parking on opening day.  In addition to the American Pharoah, the Grade II, $200,000 Eddie D Stakes, for 3-year-olds and up, will be contested at 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course.  Named for the legendary retired Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye, the Eddie D provides a platform for those horses considering the Breeders’ Cup Turf... ...

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Golden Gate to Host Owners Luncheon

From TOC ALBANY, Calif. (Sept. 6, 2021) — Golden Gate Fields will be hosting a luncheon for owners in the Turf Club on Saturday, September 25, to thank owners for their patience and support during the pandemic. The event is being headed up by Amanda Howard, Golden Gate Fields’ venue/events director who recently joined the track with a fantastic reputation from the esteemed Richmond Golf Club.  To prioritize the safety of the owners and staff the following protocols will be in place: All owners must enter through the Turf Club entrance. Per Alameda County, masks are required at all times unless eating or drinking. Owners are allowed to bring one guest.  Golden Gate understands the value of the trainers, veterinarians, and other GGF teams and will be conducting a separate appreciation event for them. Unfortunately, they will not be eligible to attend this lunch due to the guidelines set by Alameda County. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED To make a reservation for this event, please contact Wayne Atwell, TOC’s Northern California Director of... ...

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Dennis Alfieri Reappointed to CHRB Board

From the Office of the Governor SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Aug. 31, 2021) — Dennis Alfieri, 62, of Pasadena, has been reappointed to the California Horse Racing Board of Directors, where he has served since 2018. Alfieri has been Managing Member of Mission Real Estate Group since 2005. He was Chief Executive Officer of the Sheriff’s Youth Foundation from 2017 to 2020. He was Principal and a Founding Partner at Bantry Property Services LLC from 2005 to 2010 and General Partner and Founder of Twin Palms Restaurants from 1991 to 2005. Alfieri is a 40-year member of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association and a member of the Pasadena Optimist Club. This position requires Senate confirmation and the compensation is $100 per diem. Alfieri is a Republican. ...

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Four Cal-bred Stakes at Del Mar Crosby Meet

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 29, 2021) — Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s eighth fall race meeting – officially titled the Bing Crosby Season in a salute to the seaside track’s founder – includes four stakes restricted to Golden State Series eligibles during  a 15-day session starting on Wednesday, November 3. Del Mar also will host the 38th edition of the Breeders’ Cup Championships during its fall stand with 14 major races worth more than $31 million slated on Friday, November 5 and Saturday, November 6. The track had previously been home to the Breeders’ Cup in 2017. The Cal-bred races are: The Golden State Juvenile Fillies and Golden State Juvenile Stakes, each to be run at seven furlongs and worth $175,000, on Friday, Nov. 5; the $100,000 Betty Grable Stakes for fillies and mares 3 years & up at seven furlongs on Sunday, Nov. 7; and the $100,000 Cary Grant Stakes for 3 years & up at seven furlongs on Sunday, Nov. 21. A highlight of the session... ...

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Walk-up Admission Returns to Santa Anita

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Aug. 26, 2021) — With tickets set to go on sale at 10 a.m. PT, Wednesday, Sept. 1, Santa Anita’s 16-day Autumn Meet, which opens on Friday, Oct. 1, will mark the return of “Walk-Up” admission and a new inclusive pricing structure that combines admission, general parking, and a racing program.  Additionally, fans will now be able to access Santa Anita’s Club House and General Admission areas for the same $10 admission price, with open seating offered in the Grandstand, Sirona’s Bar, Paddock Room, and Seabiscuit Court.  Santa Anita Thoroughbreds Club and XB Rewards members will get a discounted price of five dollars, which also includes General Parking and a Racing Program. Santa Anita’s spacious Infield Area will be open each weekend, with $5 Admission, which also includes General Parking and Racing Program. SANTA ANITA’S NEW AUTUMN MEET PRICING SCHEDULE $10 Admission includes Program & General Parking – Open Seating in Grandstand, Sirona’s Bar, Paddock Room, Paddock Side Tables, and Seabiscuit Court. – Children 17... ...

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Grande Joins CHRB as Chief Racing Vet

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Aug. 23, 2021) – Dr. Timothy Grande is helping the California Horse Racing Board meet its obligation to protect horses and riders. While Dr. Grande has long been involved in safety efforts as Official Veterinarian (OV) on Southern California’s thoroughbred circuit, he recently increased his commitment by stepping into the newly created position of Chief Official Veterinarian (COV) for all of California racing. Dr. Grande has been working in tandem since July 1 with Dr. Jeffrey Blea, the CHRB’s equine medical director (EMD). Exactly how that teamwork will play out has yet to be fully determined, but both have some thoughts on the matter, as does CHRB Executive Director Scott Chaney. “We have been fortunate to benefit from the expertise of Dr. Grande for a number of years in California,” said Chaney. “He pioneered the concept of the entry review panel.  With this new, expanded role, California further enhances its commitment to animal welfare.” Dr. Blea added, “I worked with Dr. Grande for many years on... ...

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Cap Reached on Supplemental H-2B Visas

From NTRA WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 21, 2021) — United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently announced that it had received enough petitions for returning workers to reach the additional 22,000 H-2B visas made available through the FY 2021 H-2B supplemental visa temporary final rule and would reject and return any cap-subject petitions for H-2B returning workers received after August 13. USCIS also announced that it would return any accompanying fees with these petitions.    The FY 2021 H-2B supplemental visa temporary final rule published in May offered employers 22,000 supplemental H-2B visas for FY 2021. Of these, 6,000 were reserved for nationals of the Northern Triangle countries of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala and 16.000 for returning workers. Although the USCIS announced that they had received enough petitions for the 16,000 visas initially made available for returning workers, it did not receive enough to reach the 6,000 allocated for workers from the Northern Triangle countries. In late July, USCIS began accepting petitions for those remaining H-2B visas.   “As... ...

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Ferraro Named Winner of Pincay Award

From CHRB DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 19, 2021) — Dr. Gregory Ferraro, the current chairman of the California Horse Racing Board and a veterinarian for over half a century who has made an enduring impact on California racing as a practicing veterinarian, an equine surgeon and a medical executive, has been named the 17th recipient of the Laffit Pincay, Jr. Award. He’ll be honored in that role at Del Mar with ceremonies during this Saturday’s TVG Pacific Classic Day program. The Pincay Award, named for and presented by the Hall of Fame rider, goes to those who have served the sport “with integrity, extraordinary dedication, determination and distinction.” “I can think of few people who fit the requirements for this award better than Dr. Ferraro,” stated Pincay. “He has been a champion for horses and horse people throughout his life and his mark on our game will go on and on. He most certainly deserves this award and it will be my honor to salute him with it.” Dr. Ferraro,... ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Aug. 19, 2021) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Wednesday, August 18. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, Wendy Mitchell, and Alex Solis. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: The Board conditionally approved the license application for the Los Angeles Turf Club (II) to conduct a race meet at Santa Anita Park with racing programs beginning October 1 and concluding October 31. If Santa Anita does not finalize an agreement with the California Thoroughbred Trainers before then, this application will be reconsidered at the September 15 meeting of the Board. The Board approved the license application for a meeting of the Los Angeles County Fair at Los Alamitos Race Course with racing programs beginning September... ...

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Focus on Racing Safety Paying Off

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Aug. 2, 2021) – California horse racing experienced a 50-percent decline in equine fatalities over the last two fiscal years, largely due to steps taken by the California Horse Racing Board and a team effort with the entire California horse racing industry. After 144 horses died in FY 2018-19 from racing or training injuries or other causes while stabled at facilities under the CHRB’s jurisdiction, the number dropped to 72 in FY 2020-21, down by half. This progress did not come about suddenly. The list of safety initiatives on the CHRB website dates back decades. Previous racing commissioners demonstrated a strong commitment to racing safety. Racetrack owners and management have provided leadership and resources. Horsemen’s groups have provided encouragement and support with the cooperation of owners, trainers, jockeys, veterinarians, and other stakeholders in the industry. While the numbers of equine fatalities have been trending downward since 2005, the last fiscal year marked the most significant improvement in a single year with a 40-percent decline. Continuing the actions of... ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Wednesday, July 21. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, Wendy Mitchell, and Alex Solis. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: The Board approved three license applications for race meets, beginning with the Sonoma County Fair (SCF) meet, which will be run at Golden Gate Fields (GGF) on August 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, and 15. SCF will be required to run Arabian races during the meet in compliance with statutes. In a related matter, the Board approved an agreement between SCF and the Thoroughbred Owners of California authorizing the racing secretary to establish conditions on races limiting the administrations of certain medications. The Board approved the license application for the Pacific... ...

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Del Mar Adds General Admission Sales

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (July 21, 2021) — Del Mar is delighted to begin allowing limited general admission sales at the track when racing resumes this Friday, July 23.  We began the season cautiously, as our reopening plan was limited to seated capacity. Operations went so well opening weekend that we are now making limited general admission and walk-up sales available for our fans, including Diamond Club discounts at the gate.  On behalf of Del Mar, thank you for your continued support and patience as we all have adapted to the changing circumstances and continue to return to normal. We look forward to welcoming you back to the track. Click here for details on general admission.  ...

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Los Alamitos Meet Follows Del Mar

From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. (July 17, 2021) — Five stakes worth a guaranteed $400,000 will be offered during the upcoming Los Angeles County Fair at Los Alamitos meet, including the $75,000 E.B. Johnston for California-breds. The 10-day LACF season is scheduled to begin Friday, Sept. 10 and continue through Sunday, Sept. 26. Racing will be conducted on a Friday-Sunday basis the first two weeks (Sept. 10-12 and Sept. 17-19) and Thursday-Sunday (Sept. 23-26) the final week. The first of the stakes races will be contested Saturday, Sept. 11. Three-year-old fillies will run six furlongs in the $75,000-guaranteed Beverly J. Lewis. One day later, 3-year-olds & up bred or sired in California will compete in the $75,000-guaranteed E.B. Johnston at one mile. The final two Saturdays of the season will feature the $75,000-guaranteed Capote for 2-year-olds colts & geldings Sept. 18 and the $75,000-guaranteed Phone Chatter for fillies Sept. 25. Both races will be run at 6 ½ furlongs. Completing the stakes schedule is the $100,000-guaranteed Los Alamitos Special... ...

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Dr. Jeff Blea Named Equine Medical Director

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (June 25, 2021) — Dr. Jeff Blea will assume the responsibilities of Equine Medical Director for the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) on July 1, replacing Dr. Rick Arthur, who retires June 30 after serving 15 years as EMD. In addition to advising the Board on matters pertaining to equine health and welfare, Dr. Blea will help oversee the CHRB’s drug testing program, work with investigators on medication violations, liaise with those peers directing programs at the University of California, Davis, including the Postmortem Program, and work with Official Veterinarians in their oversight of practicing veterinarians. Dr. Blea is perfectly positioned to assume this vital role. He was a practicing veterinarian on the Southern California thoroughbred circuit for 28 years, and during that time he demonstrated an interest in improving horse racing, focusing primarily on equine health and welfare, as evidenced by his leadership nationally with the American Association of Equine Practitioners and regionally with the Southern California Equine Foundation. He served as a director of the... ...

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TOC Board of Directors Election Results

From TOC ARCADIA, Calif. (June 21, 2021) – TOC’s membership elected Ryan Hanson and Lindsay LaRoche and re-elected incumbents Ed Moger, Stephanie Hronis, and Rick Gold to its Board of Directors. All five were elected to three-year terms. The new board officially takes office on July 1st.        Hanson is a fourth-generation horseman who worked as an exercise rider and assistant trainer before moving to Santa Anita in 2017 as a trainer. Since then his stable has grown to over 20 head, and he has campaigned world champion distance runner Honoroso as well as several graded stakes winners.        LaRoche joins the board as a Northern California representative. A resident of Lafayette, CA for 20 years, he and his wife, Deborah, run Highland Yard stable, with several horses in training at Golden Gate Fields and in Southern California.        Gold has served on the board for four years. He is chair of TOC’s Medication and Integrity committee, a member of the Executive, Finance, and Wagering... ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Wednesday, June 16. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, Wendy Mitchell, and Alex Solis. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: The Board conditionally approved the license application for the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club to operate a race meet that will open on Friday, July 16, and run through Monday (Labor Day), September 6. Unlike last year when the pandemic prevented the public from attending the races, Del Mar will welcome as many as 15,000 patrons to its racing programs, provided they have reserved seats. Racing is scheduled for three days – Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – for the first two weeks, and then Thursday racing will be added for the following... ...

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NTRA’s Alex Waldrop to Retire

From NTRA LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 16, 2021)—National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA) President and Chief Executive Officer Alex Waldrop today announced that he will retire at the end of 2021 after 15 years at the helm of the organization.   Waldrop has had a distinguished career in the horse racing industry, serving as President of Churchill Downs and later as Chair of the equine, gaming, and entertainment practice group at the Kentucky-based law firm Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, where he served as the NTRA’s general counsel before joining the organization full-time in his current role.   During Waldrop’s tenure at the NTRA, the association transitioned from a member dues-driven organization into a self-sustaining, program-driven operation with more than 90 percent of the entity’s revenues now derived from programs that support the industry.   Under Waldrop’s leadership, the NTRA grew its footprint in Washington, D.C., solidifying its position as the industry’s leading voice and the entity that represents all segments of the Thoroughbred industry on Capitol Hill. As the trade association for... ...

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Trevor Denman Returns as Voice of Del Mar

By Bloodhorse.com DEL MAR, Calif. (June 4, 2021) — Trevor’s back. Del Mar announced June 3 that Trevor Denman, the iconic racing commentator who called every race at the seaside oval from 1984-2019, will return to the track’s roof for the 2021 season after sheltering in place throughout 2020 at his rural Minnesota farm as he and his wife Robin rode out the COVID-19 pandemic.  “We are very keen to get back to Del Mar,” Denman recently wrote in an e-mail to a track official.  And Del Mar fans will get to hear the 68-year-old South African expatriate again when racing begins anew at the seaside oval on Friday, July 16.  Del Mar notes that when Denman first brought his unique style to Southern California in the 1980s, he quickly went about reshaping racetrack calls nationwide. With his understanding of the scene unfolding in front of him (he’d tried a stint as a rider early on), he was capable of “describing” the race lyrically instead of simply using the staccato style of position... ...

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More H-2B Visas Available to Employers

From NTRA WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 25, 2021) — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) issued a joint temporary final rule that was published today in the Federal Register and offers 22,000 additional H-2B visas to employers for the second half of the federal fiscal year that ends on September 30, 2021. These visas are used by employers, such as racehorse trainers, who seek seasonal guest workers. They are capped at 66,000 annually, with an even split of 33,000 available for each half of the federal government’s fiscal year. Six thousand of these supplemental visas will be reserved for nationals of the Northern Triangle countries of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. “The 22,000 H-2B visas offered through this rule issued by the DHS and DOL will be helpful to employers who rely on the H-2B visa program, including trainers, but many more of these visas are ultimately required to satisfy the need,” said NTRA President and CEO Alex Waldrop. “For that reason, the NTRA, through its... ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 20, 2021) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Wednesday, May 19. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, Wendy Mitchell, and Alex Solis. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: ·     The Board approved the license application for the Alameda County Fair to operate a fair meet in Pleasanton commencing June 18 through July 11 with 13 racing programs, including Monday, July 5. The race meet will not run concurrently with the Alameda County Fair, which has been moved to the fall. Through an agreement with Golden Gate Fields (GGF), the California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF), and the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), a majority of the horses racing in Pleasanton will be stabled at... ...

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Fair Tracks to Stable NorCal Horses

From TOC ARCADIA, Calif. (May 8, 2021) — CARF (California Authority of Racing Fairs) has informed the CHRB that it is seeking to run a seven-week 2021 fair race meet from June 18 through August 1 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. We understand this meet will comprise the race weeks awarded to both Pleasanton and Sacramento by the CHRB. As part of its race meet application to the CHRB, CARF has instructed Golden Gate Fields that CARF will be providing stabling for this combined meet with 680 stalls at Pleasanton and 600 stalls at Sacramento. Consistent with CARF’s plans, Golden Gate will use this period to address track accommodations and various backstretch maintenance. Upgrades to the sanitary conditions of the restrooms have already begun. Golden Gate will remain open for stabling for five additional days after the last day of its current meet, through June 18. Golden Gate will reopen the backside on July 26, 10 days before the start of the Santa Rosa Meet, which will be run at Golden Gate Fields in the same manner... ...

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NTRA Annual Report Now Online

From NTRA The NTRA’s 2020 Legislative Annual Report is now available online. Click here to view the report.   Features of the 2020 Legislative Annual Report include:   A federal legislative summary of issues that are important to horse racing and breeding, including the latest on the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act, Sports Betting, Three-year Racehorse Depreciation, Immigration and other legislation  A list of 2020 contributors to the NTRA’s Legislative Action Campaign through the ¼% Check-off Program and other related NTRA fundraising programs  Sale company calendars  Member discount information from NTRA partners like John Deere, Sherwin-Williams, Office Depot and Big Ass Fans   Thank you to all who supported the NTRA’s federal legislative effort in Washington, DC, by giving to the ¼% Check-off Program, the Foal Program, the National Horseplayers Championship (NHC) Tour or through a direct contribution.   Please share this report with others who have an interest in Thoroughbred racing and breeding and share your enthusiasm for our industry.   With Appreciation,   Joe Bacigalupo Sr. Director of Government Relations... ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Apr. 22, 2021) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Wednesday, April 21. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, and Wendy Mitchell. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: ·     The Board approved for 45-day public notice and comment a proposed regulatory amendment to toughen and standardize penalties for violation of rules governing use of the riding crop. Key changes are the elimination of maximum penalties and addition of minimum penalties that the stewards may impose. The rule specifically states that stewards may issue greater penalties where the violation is “egregious or intentional.” Commissioners expressed the hope that the regulatory process could be completed in time for the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on November 5 and... ...

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More H-2B Visas Being Offered in 2021

From NTRA WASHINGTON, D.C. (Apr. 20, 2021) — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Labor have agreed to offer 22,000 additional H-2B visas to employers for the second half of the federal fiscal year that ends on September 30, 2021. These visas are used by employers, such as racehorse trainers, who seek seasonal guest workers. They are capped at 66,000 annually, with an even split of 33,000 available for each half of the federal government’s fiscal year. The additional visas will be made available later this spring or early summer via a temporary final rule in the Federal Register.  Six thousand of these visas will be reserved for nationals of the Northern Triangle countries of Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.   “We are pleased to learn that additional H-2B visas will be available for trainers soon and applaud Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Labor Secretary Marty Walsh for this action,” said NTRA President and CEO Alex Waldrop. “At the same time, the NTRA supports... ...

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Alameda Fair Meet to Open on June 18

By DRF.com PLEASANTON, Calif. (Apr. 16, 2021) — The Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton, Calif., confirmed Wednesday it will run its meet this summer as scheduled. In a letter to horsemen, Jerome Hoban, the fair’s CEO, said the fair “fully intends” to conduct its meet beginning on June 18. The meet is scheduled to run through July 11. Hoban said in the letter he is hopeful the track will be able to admit fans. Golden Gate Fields began allowing a limited number of fans on April 16. The fairgrounds is the site of COVID vaccinations and food distribution, and the actual fair is tentatively being scheduled to run in October, Hoban said. ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Mar. 24, 2021) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Tuesday, March 23. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, Wendy Mitchell, and Alex Solis. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: By a 4-3 vote, the Board temporarily tabled the agenda item calling for tougher penalties for jockeys misusing the riding crop. By that slim majority, the Board approved a motion by Chairman Ferraro to delay consideration of proposed changes to CHRB Rule 1688 in order to provide more time to review all aspects of the rule, particularly the proposed requirement for stewards to impose a fine equivalent to 50 percent of the jockey’s earnings in a graded stakes race. Commissioner Solis, the Thoroughbred Owners of... ...

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Del Mar Planning on Fans in the Stands

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Mar. 16, 2021) — With improving trends in public health data, growth in vaccination rates and the gradual relaxation of limits on attendance at sporting and performance venues in the state, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club officials are looking forward to a return of fans to the seaside track when it opens for its 82nd summer season on Friday, July 16, track officials said today. Track personnel are planning for spectators on site when the racetrack kicks off a 31-day season that will feature 34 major stakes, a substantial increase in purses and a return to the sun and fun vibe that has been part of its culture since it first opened its gates in 1937. “We will continue to follow the guidance of local health officials and our medical advisors, but based on what has been announced for other local attractions such as the San Diego Padres and SeaWorld, we are optimistic we will have fans in the stands this summer at some level,” said... ...

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NTRA Updates Immigration Issues

From NTRA WASHINGTON, D.C. (Feb. 25, 2021) — President Biden issued a Proclamation on Wednesday, February 24, 2020, to revoke Proclamation 10014 (Suspension of Entry of Immigrants Who Present a Risk to the United States Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak) and sections of related Proclamations that added nonimmigrants to the travel suspension. Click here to view President Biden’s Proclamation. Originally issued on April 20, 2020, by then-President Trump and extended by him in June and December through sections of Proclamations 10052 and 10131, respectively, Proclamation 10014 prevented certain immigrants and nonimmigrants from traveling to the United States. Included in this group were individuals who either were selected to receive the opportunity to apply for visas – including H-2B visas – through the Fiscal Year 2020 Diversity Visa Lottery or who had already received such visas, causing labor challenges for many industries, including the horse racing industry. President Biden’s Proclamation revokes these restrictions.   In other foreign worker developments, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that... ...

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Jockey Club 2021 Fact Book Online

From The Jockey Club LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 22, 2021) — The Jockey Club announced today that the 2021 edition of the Fact Book is available in the Resources section of its website at jockeyclub.com. The online Fact Book is a statistical and informational guide to Thoroughbred breeding, racing and auction sales in North America and is updated quarterly. It also features a directory of Canadian, international, national, and state organizations. Links to the Breeding Statistics report that is released by The Jockey Club each September and the Report of Mares Bred information that is published by The Jockey Club each October can be found in the Breeding section of the Fact Book. Among the data included in the Fact Book are import/export and sales trends, all of which appear to have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Namely, when compared to 2019, imports decreased 23.3%, exports decreased 35.6%, and mean yearling price decreased 19.9%. The Fact Book’s racing data, some of which was released as part of Equibase Company’s year-end... ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Feb. 18, 2021) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Wednesday, February 17. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, Wendy Mitchell, and Alex Solis. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: The Board approved an agreement between the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), the Los Angeles Turf Club (Santa Anita), and Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (Del Mar) under which those parties will redirect some of their own revenue from Advance Deposit Wagering into a marketing program to fund player rebates, stakes recruitment, and Ship & Win incentives, among other things. This program replicates the functions of the defunct California Marketing Committee. The Board began the regulatory process to update the CHRB classification of drug substances to align with Association of Racing Commissions... ...

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CHRB Releases 2019-20 Annual Report

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Feb. 18, 2021) — Pursuant to Business and Professions Code section 19441 (Horse Racing Law), the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) is pleased to submit its 50th Annual Report, which summarizes the activities of the CHRB during the 2019-20 fiscal year, including statistical data and an overview of the Board’s operations.  The report also offers highlights of horse racing for all breeds in California for the 2020 calendar year. The CHRB 2019-20 Annual Report has also been posted to the Board’s website and can viewed at www.chrb.ca.gov. The CHRB is proud of the many achievements listed in its report and is dedicated to protecting the integrity of the industry at all levels for the millions of fans that wager and watch California horse racing. Sincerely, Scott Chaney Executive Director California Horse Racing Board ...

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Gary Fenton Elected TOC Chairman

From TOC ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 13, 2021) — The TOC Board unanimously elected Gary Fenton to serve as the new Chairman of the organization replacing outgoing Chairman Nick Alexander who stepped down after five years in the role. Fenton has been on the TOC Board since 2016 and has served as Chairman of the TOC Racing Committee since 2018 and TOC Vice-Chairman since 2019. Fenton is the managing partner of Little Red Feather Racing (LRF), California’s largest syndicate with over 85 horses and over 400 owner/partners. LRF has campaigned Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Singletary as well as Grade 1 winners Egg Drop, Midnight Storm, Secret Spice, Fault and Mirth. LRF has the fifth most starts of all owners in Southern California since 2010.  Fenton grew up in Beverly Hills, CA and caught the horse racing bug at an early age attending races at Hollywood Park, Santa Anita and Del Mar, including the first Breeders’ Cup in 1984. He began his career as an entertainment attorney working for the William Morris Agency and... ...

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CHRB Names Blea Equine Medical Director

From CHRB ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 8, 2021) – Dr. Jeff Blea has been a trusted voice in the California horse racing industry for decades, and in July he will become the veterinary voice of the California Horse Racing Board upon the long-planned retirement of Dr. Rick Arthur from the critically important position of Equine Medical Director (EMD). While Dr. Blea has been committed to his thriving veterinary practice on the Southern California thoroughbred circuit, he recently decided he could be a more valuable resource to the equine veterinary profession and provide greater assistance in the advancement of the racing industry. Dr. Gregory Ferraro, chairman of CHRB and a former equine veterinarian himself on the southern circuit, described Dr. Blea as “a nationally known and widely respected equine veterinarian.  He is recognized for his clear thinking and fairness in his decision making.” Under contract arrangements between the CHRB and the School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) at the University of California, Davis, the EMD serves as a member of its faculty. CHRB... ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 22, 2021) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Thursday, January 21. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, Wendy Mitchell, and Alex Solis. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: The Board approved by a 4-3 vote a one-year license for the quarter-horse meet at Los Alamitos Race Course that began December 26, 2020, and will continue through December 19, 2021. Chairman Ferraro and Commissioners Alfieri, Castellanos, and Solis voted in favor of the motion to approve, while Vice Chair Gonzales and Commissioners Davis and Mitchell opposed the motion in favor of a six-month license. Because the primary focus of CHRB concerns has been safety at Los Alamitos, management made a lengthy and detailed presentation... ...

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New Program to Boost California Purses

From TOC ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 14, 2020) — The Thoroughbred Owners of California (“TOC”), Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, The Stronach Group’s 1/ST Racing and FanDuel Group’s TVG announced today new purse enhancement program that will inject up to $15 million into California Thoroughbred purses in 2021 and 2022. The parties to the agreement, all major stakeholders in California Thoroughbred racing, believed that working together on additional sponsorship and purse enhancements would help support the state’s racing industry in light of the loss of purse revenue due to the cessation of live racing in California in 2020 and the restrictions on on-site attendance due to public health requirements. The parties also share a commitment to support and promote the significant equine health and safety advancements made by California racing interests over the last two years. “California racing has always been very important to TVG, and we are committed to continuing our support of the racing industry here, especially given the challenging circumstances the industry faced in 2020” said TVG CEO Kip... ...

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H-2B Visa Provisions Set to Continue

From NTRA WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 23, 2020) — A series of current H-2B visa program provisions are set to continue as part of omnibus legislation passed Monday by Congress.   H-2B visa program policies set to continue include:   Authority for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of Labor (DOL), to increase the H-2B cap for fiscal year 2021 by up to approximately 69,000 visas if it determines that the needs of seasonal businesses cannot be met with U.S. workers; Continuation of the use of private wage surveys for prevailing wage determinations; A prohibition against DOL enforcing the corresponding employment and three-quarters guarantee provisions of its H-2B regulations relating to total work hours; and Provisions extending the maximum employment season for up to 10 months, as opposed the nine-months in current DOL regulations.   The H-2B visa guest worker program is a nonimmigrant visa program used by many industries that need temporary non-agricultural help when domestic workers are unavailable. For the horse racing industry, racehorse trainers... ...

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Big Increases as Los Alamitos Concludes

From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. –Large fields, a record Pick Six pool and payoff, a fourth consecutive sweep of the Grade I Starlet and Grade II Los Alamitos Futurity for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert were among the highlights of the 11-day Los Angeles County Fair Winter Thoroughbred meet, which concluded Sunday. Buoyed by an influx of more than 200 horses from Northern California – due to the current suspension of racing at Golden Gate Fields – the average field size for the season was nearly nine runners per race, compared to 6.97 for the 2019 Winter meet. There were 854 participants in 98 races during the season. This led to a sizable boost in terms of business. The average daily handle on races run at Los Alamitos was up 36% over 2019 and average daily handle increased 20% on a comparable basis to last year’s Winter season. “This meet was an unprecedented one,’’ said F. Jack Liebau, vice president of the Los Alamitos Racing Association. “In the... ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Dec. 19, 2020) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Thursday, December 17. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, and Wendy Mitchell. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: The Board initially split evenly in 3-3 votes to approve any form of license for Los Alamitos to conduct a quarter-horse meet in 2021. This meant the meet would not have been permitted to begin as scheduled on December 26. Upon reconsideration, the Board voted 5-1 to approve the license application for six months through June 30, 2021. Chairman Ferraro remained the lone dissenting vote, preferring to grant the license for the requested full year. At the June 17 meeting, the Board will determine whether Los Alamitos... ...

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Thoroughbred Connect Info Available

From The Jockey Club LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 17, 2020) — The Jockey Club Registry announced today that contact information submitted through its Thoroughbred Connect program by those interested in providing aftercare or assistance for a Thoroughbred is now available when a horse’s digital certificate of foal registration is accessed by the certificate manager. Thoroughbred Connect enables anyone with an Interactive Registration (IR) account to express his or her willingness to be contacted by someone in possession of a Thoroughbred in the event the horse is in need of aftercare or assistance. It is also a resource for horse owners to list a Thoroughbred that is in need of aftercare or assistance.  With this update, contact information for those who would like to help a specific Thoroughbred is displayed by default on a horse’s digital certificate page. Thoroughbred Connect users can elect to opt out of this setting at any time. Contact information associated with horses born prior to 2018, and who thus might not have a digital certificate, can still... ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Nov. 20, 2020) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Thursday, November 19. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, Wendy Mitchell, and Alex Solis. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: The Board took four steps to protect racehorses and ensure the integrity of horse racing by furthering regulations to limit certain procedures and medications: The Board approved for 45-day public notice a proposed rule to severely restrict the use of  thyroxine (levothyroxine sodium). The regulation requires a specific laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of hypothyroidism, which must be reviewed and approved by the official veterinarian or equine medical director before thyroxine can be prescribed, as well as other restrictions. The Board gave final approval to a... ...

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Rancho San Miguel Sets Stallion Fees

From Rancho San Miguel SAN MIGUEL, Calif. (Nov. 13, 2020) – Rancho San Miguel has set 2021 stud fees for its roster of seven stallions, led by the globetrotting Sir Prancealot (IRE) whose fee will remain a California-leading $15,000 for his second season at stud in California. Sir Prancealot, who sired progeny which won stakes in at least 6 countries in 2020, will return from Cornerstone Stud in Australia after breeding 105 mares in California in 2020.  His offspring have shown a propensity for high quality racing in North America with 17% Graded Stakes winners and 53% Stakes Horses earning an average earning per starters of over $210,000 from his only 17 starters.  They performed very well in the Breeders Cup last weekend when Miss Amulet ran a good third in the BC Juvenile Turf S-G1 in her U.S. debut and Lady Prancealot ran a very close 4th in the BC Filly & Mares Turf-G1.  They have also starred in the sales ring at Keeneland this week when the all... ...

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CHRB Expands Posting of Complaints

From CHRB SACRAMENTO,Calif. (Oct. 27, 2020) – The California Horse Racing Board has expanded the posting of complaints on its website for alleged medication violations to include Class 4 and Class 5 violations. The CHRB has been posting complaints for the more serious Class 1, 2, and 3 violations, which require disqualifications and forfeiture of purses. However, with the increased emphasis on all medication violations in horse racing, the CHRB has elected  to add Class 4 and Class 5 complaints as well. The complaints stem from all drug testing, including alleged violations during racing, training, and from out-of-competition testing. To view complaints filed by the CHRB, go to the website (www.chrb.ca.gov) and click on the tab for Administrative Actions, then select Complaints from the drop-down menu. Be aware that complaints are filed for alleged violations prior to hearing. The cases have not been adjudicated at the time they are posted. Pursuant to a new statute, potential medication violations will be posted on the CHRB website beginning January 1, 2021, with... ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Oct. 23, 2020) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Thursday, October 22. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chairman Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, Wendy Mitchell, and Alex Solis. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: The Board allocated 2021 racing dates for Southern California thoroughbreds (and one fair meet), harness racing, and quarter horse racing, The Board also allocated dates for Northern California thoroughbred racing for the first six months of the year. Due to uncertainties created by COVID-19, the Board delayed consideration of dates for the latter half of 2021 for Northern California thoroughbred meets and fairs. At this time, all meets are expected to run without the public in attendance, but that also could change depending... ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Oct. 14, 2020) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Monday, October 12. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chairman Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, Wendy Mitchell, and Alex Solis. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. The sole purpose of this meeting was to consider a change of location for the authorized horse sale of Fasig-Tipton, Inc., set for October 19. The Board had approved the sale for its intended location at Fairplex Park in Pomona. However, Los Angeles County health officials did not give their permission for the sale to occur in that location. Arrangements then were made by those involved to switch the location to Los Alamitos Race Course after the Orange County Health Department gave its approval. The... ...

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Uptown Rythem Gets First Winner

ALBANY, Calif. (Oct. 5, 2020) – California stallion Uptown Rythem was represented by his first winner on Sunday when Le Majestic won the fourth race at Golden Gate, a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds. Le Majestic, a colt out of the Volksraad mare Pams Pompallier, was bred by C-Punch Ranch, is owned by Irvin Racing Stable and trained by Greg James. He won at first asking by two lengths at odds of 5-1 in a field of six, running the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:04.30. ...

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Newsom Signs Racing Reform Bill

By Bloodhorse.com SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Oct. 1, 2020) — On Sept. 29, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill from California Sen. Bill Dodd meant to improve horse racing safety across the state and build on reforms adopted last year, the senator’s office said in a news release. The governor also signed a second horse racing bill, co-authored by Dodd and California Assemblyman Adam Gray, that incorporated recommendations from the California Horse Racing Board. “The horse racing industry must accept and adopt forward-thinking solutions as the health and welfare of the sport’s human and equine athletes are paramount to their future in California,” Newsom said in the release. “These bills are an essential step to create a safer and more transparent horse racing experience for everyone involved and can serve as a model for other states to follow.” “Making horse racing safer for horses and jockeys is critical for the future of this sport,” Dodd added. “Thanks to Gov. Newsom for signing my bill, which will help ensure track... ...

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Stephanie Hronis Joins TOC Board

From TOC ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 28, 2020) — The Board of Directors of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) unanimously named Stephanie Hronis to fill the board vacancy created by the recent resignation of Allen Aldrich. Hronis will be required to run in the 2021 board election. Ms. Hronis has spent more than 20 years in education as a school counselor, faculty member at the graduate and community college levels, and Family Resource Center Director for the Lindsay Unified School District. Much of her career brought her in contact with the migrant farmworker communities of Central California, working with kindergarten through adult-aged students to access educational resources and plan for college and careers. With her husband Kosta and his brother, Pete, Hronis Racing won the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs with Accelerate, subsequently named Eclipse Award Older Male Dirt Champion. Their filly Stellar Wind was champion 3-year-old filly of 2015. Hronis Racing was named Leading California Owner by Money Won in 2017, 2018, and 2019, as well as Leading California... ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Thursday, September 24. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chairman Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, and Wendy Mitchell. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: Chairman Ferraro and others welcomed Commissioner Davis to her first meeting since her August 26 appointment to the Board by Governor Gavin Newsom. The Board approved license applications for four race meets, all of which are scheduled to be run without fans in attendance due to COVID-19 and under strict protocols established by local health officials designed to protect all racing participants. As approved: The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club will run its fall meet beginning October 31 through November 29 with mostly three-day racing weeks, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Watchandwager.com will... ...

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Pair of Cal-bred Stakes at Los Alamitos

From Los Alamitos Publicity CYPRESS, Calif. (Sept. 24, 2020) – A pair of $100,000 juvenile stakes in the Golden State Series are on the schedule for the Los Angeles County Fair Winter Thoroughbred Meet at Los Alamitos, which will be held Dec. 4-20. The Golden State Series stakes are the $100,000 Soviet Problem – for fillies – on Saturday, Dec. 12 and the $100,000 King Glorious for 2-year-olds will be run Sunday, Dec. 20. Los Alamitos also will host the $300,000 Grade I Los Alamitos Starlet for 2-year-old fillies on Saturday, Dec. 5; the $200,000 Grade II Los Alamitos Futurity for 2-year-olds on Saturday, Dec. 19; and the $100,000 Bayakoa for fillies and mares on Sunday, Dec. 6. ...

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TOC NorCal Annual Meeting Info

From TOC ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 24, 2020) — Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) invites all members to the Northern California Annual Meeting on Oct. 24 at 10 a.m. PT. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the general business meeting will be live-streamed allowing you to participate online and / or by phone. This meeting gives TOC directors an opportunity to bring the membership up to date on important issues and will include a question-and-answer session.  Instructions on how to participate will be emailed to you the day before the event. Please note that your CHRB license MUST be current in order to participate. To register, click: https://cl.s11.exct.net/?qs=7b55082027a6cb7803306bd26a072c31a5f5add5eb69626cc4b4a5b3cdf2158efdbd785a5816d49b09d5b90fdb896b08 ...

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Reddam Racing LLC Honored by TOBA

From TOBA LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 17, 2020) – Reddam Racing LLC has been selected the California Breeder of the Year by the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association. “The 23 breeders from the U.S. and Canada enjoyed a tremendous year in 2019 from their homebred runners and we are honored to recognize their outstanding achievements and contributions to our sport at the TOBA National Awards,” said Dan Metzger, President of TOBA. Also honored during the TOBA National Awards program will be the National Owner of the Year, National Broodmare of the Year, Cot Campbell Racing Partnership of the Year, Industry Service Award, Claiming Crown Horse of the Year and the Sport Horse of the Year. TOBA’s National Awards will be presented virtually from Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa on TOBA’s Facebook page and at TOBA.org/2020Awards.  TOBA National Awards sponsors include Hill ‘n’ Dale at Xalapa, LuminUltra, Limestone Bank, Stonestreet Farms, John Deere and NTRA, Big Ass Fans, National HBPA, 1/ST, The Jockey Club Information Systems and Stoll Keenon Ogden. ...

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Jockey Club Projects 2021 Foal Crop

From The Jockey Club LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 9, 2020) — The Jockey Club is projecting a 2021 North American registered Thoroughbred foal crop of 19,200. The estimation for the 2020 foal crop remains at 20,500. The foal crop projection, traditionally announced in mid-August, is computed by using Reports of Mares Bred (RMBs) received to date for the 2020 breeding season. RMBs are to be filed by August 1 of each breeding season. “The Jockey Club delayed publication of the estimation of the 2021 foal crop to provide stud farms that may have been affected by COVID-19 additional time to submit their RMBs,” said Matt Iuliano, The Jockey Club’s executive vice president and executive director. Additional foal crop information is available in The Jockey Club’s online fact book at jockeyclub.com/factbook.asp and in the online state fact books. Stallion owners who have not returned their RMBs for the 2020 breeding season are encouraged to do so as soon as possible. Interactive Registration, which enables registered users to perform virtually all registration-related activities... ...

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Santa Anita Adding Turf Course Chute

From Santa Anita Publicity ARCADIA, Calif. (Aug. 26, 2020)–In a move that will ensure the most expansive turf racing program in the Western U.S., Santa Anita Park is in the process of adding a brand new turf course chute, which will enable the track to offer fans and horsemen a wide array of turf sprints that heretofore had not been available. Under the direction of track consultant Dennis Moore, the new chute, which will run parallel to the seven furlong main track chute, will cross the dirt oval and join up with the turf oval at approximately the five furlong pole and be available for usage beginning opening day of Santa Anita’s traditional Winter/Spring Meeting on Dec. 26. The new turf chute, which is 80 feet wide and approximately 800 feet long, will comfortably accommodate sprint races at distances of 6 ½, six, 5 ½ and five furlongs on “the flat,” while Santa Anita’s traditional Camino Real Hillside Course will continue to be available to horses running distances of a... ...

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CHRB Appointments Announced by Newsom

From Bloodhorse.com California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Aug. 26 the appointment of Brenda Davis and the reappointment of Wendy Mitchell to the California Horse Racing Board. Both appointments require Senate confirmation. The composition of the CHRB, which oversees and regulates horse racing in the state, has been altered over the past year by Newsom. Madeline Auerbach, Fred Maas, Araceli Ruano, and Chuck Winner left the board, and Dr. Greg Ferraro, Mitchell, and Oscar Gonzales joined as commissioners, leaving one vacancy, according to CHRB spokesman Mike Marten. Davis’ appointment specifically fills the position left by Maas, Marten said. This spring, Scott Chaney was appointed executive director of the CHRB, replacing Rick Baedeker, who retired. According to a release from the Newsom, Davis, 65, of Sacramento, has been a principal at Brenda Davis Law Group since 2007 and was managing counsel at the California Farm Bureau Federation from 1999 to 2007. Davis was a legislative advocate and negotiator in the Executive Office of the Attorney General at the California Department of Justice... ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From TOC SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Aug. 21, 2020) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Thursday, August 20. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Vice Chairman Oscar Gonzales chaired the meeting, joined by Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Wendy Mitchell, and Alex Solis. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: Dr. Rick Arthur, equine medical director, helped open the meeting with a discussion of the current heat wave in California and its effect on racehorses. Dr. Arthur explained that temperatures alone do not determine whether it is safe for horses to compete. He described the Heat Stress Index (HSI) as a more accurate method. He sent a memo this week to horsemen, track management, stewards, and veterinarians reminding them of how to use HSI and when to undertake heat-stress mitigation steps. That memo is posted on the CHRB website under... ...

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TOC Discount for Equine MediRecord

From TOC ARCADIA, Calif. (Aug. 19, 2020) — The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) recently approved the addition of Rule 1842.5 to require trainers to maintain medication treatment records for the horses in their care. Equine MediRecord (EMR), which tracks horses’ medical records in an online database, complies with all CHRB requirements. EMR is currently up and running in Europe and Kentucky. According to CHRB Executive Director Scott Chaney, “I was impressed with EMR’s system, in which equine medical records are digitized and recorded on a mobile and web-based application used by trainers or their vets. It complies with the new rule requiring trainers to maintain treatment records.” At its July board meeting, the TOC board unanimously agreed to support the set up and implementation of the system in California within 8 to 16 weeks. In exchange, we negotiated special TOC member discounts for the EMR system. TOC members will have access to the system for their horses for FREE until the end of 2020, at a 50% discount in... ...

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Guidance for H-2B Visas Issued

From NTRA LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 12, 2020) – The State Department released guidance for the Presidential Proclamations from June 22 (P.P. 10014 & 10052) that temporarily suspended issuance of new non-immigrant visas, such as the H-2B visa used by horse trainers. The guidance provides exceptions to the suspension and gives trainers the opportunity to secure more H-2B workers if at least two of the following three indicators are present:   1.     The applicant was previously employed and trained by the petitioning U.S. employer.    2.     The applicant is traveling based on a temporary labor certification (TLC) that reflects continued need for the worker.    3.     Denial of the visa will cause financial hardship to the U.S. employer.    The NTRA urges trainers in need of additional labor to contact their H-2B consultant immediately for further guidance. ...

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NTRA Check-off Forms Now Online

From NTRA WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 4, 2020) — Those selling at the breeding stock sales this year may now enroll in the voluntary NTRA ¼% Check-off Program that funds the NTRA’s federal legislative effort. Sale clients should return a completed enrollment form to their consignor when selling with one of our sale company partners listed below.   Click here to access the enrollment form and other information about the Check-off Program.   The NTRA’s federal legislative team focuses on issues that have a direct and material effect on Thoroughbred industry participants and their business activities. We understand the many challenges currently facing everyone in the industry, in particular owners and breeders. Our job is to help ease some of these concerns by working every day in Washington, DC, with federal lawmakers and their staffs.   You can help us help horse racing in DC by contributing $2.50 for every $1,000 in sale price when you enroll in the ¼% Check-off Program.   Our federal legislative team requests your support at... ...

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Del Mar Adds Make-up Race Date August 31

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 3, 2020) — Del Mar Thoroughbred Club has announced it will run a make-up day of racing on Monday, August 31. It expects to present a 10-race card starting at 2 p.m. The added date means Del Mar will finish up its 2020 summer race meet with two four-day weekends — August 28 to 31 and September 4 to 7. On the heels of a recently announced 10% purse increase, the seaside track’s extra day will bring the number of race days for its 81st summer season to 27. Originally, 28 racing days had been planned. The track’s racing office has been adding extra races to its regular cards to make up for the lost date as the meet moves through its scheduled Friday through Sunday timetable. ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (July 20, 2020) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Monday, July 20. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Dr. Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Wendy Mitchell, and Alex Solis. The only agenda item was discussion and action by the Board regarding the Board’s action on July 10, 2020, to place on probation the license to conduct a horse race meet for the Los Alamitos Quarter Horse Racing Association (LQHRA) at Los Alamitos Race Course, running December 27, 2019, through December 22, 2020, pending a plan of action from the licensee to reduce fatalities, pursuant to CHRB Rule 1435 After LQHRA presented a plan that includes additional safety personnel and greater scrutiny of horses in training and entered to race, the Board accepted the plan and took no action against the racetrack’s license, while indicating intent... ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB SACRAMENTO, Calif. (July 17, 2020) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Thursday, July 16. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Dr. Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Wendy Mitchell, and Alex Solis. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: The Board approved two agenda items pertaining to funding the CHRB budget for the fiscal year 2020-21. The budget of $16,820,500 is $2.2 million higher than the previous fiscal year, largely due to $1.4 million in increases for drug testing and safety measures. The Board approved the license application for a meeting of the Sonoma County Fair (SCF) to be run at Golden Gate Fields, commencing July 31 through August 9, on condition that certain required documents must be submitted to the CHRB at least one... ...

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Former Jockey Ken Church Passes at 90

From DMTC Publicity RENO, Nev. (July 13, 2020) — Ken Church, a prominent national rider from the 1940s to the 1960s who then transitioned to racetrack Media work in Southern California, died this morning at a hospital in Reno, Nevada, his daughter, Debbie Anderson, reported. He was 90. Anderson said her father had suffered a case of pneumonia a week ago at the retirement home where he lived in Reno and was moved to a local hospital. The cause of death was listed as the result of him contracting COVID-19. Church, who was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada on March 24, 1930, came to the racetrack as a teenager at Woodbine in Toronto, then began riding in the U.S. shortly thereafter. He rode in Florida, New Jersey, Illinois and Kentucky before finished his career in California. He rode in more than 14,000 races and had more than 2,000 winners. Among the top horses he partnered with were California-bred Native Diver, Crafty Admiral, Oil Capitol, Old Hat, Bornastar, Mr. Consistency and... ...

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Collmus to Sub for Denman at Del Mar

From DMTC Publicity DEL MAR, Calif. (June 17, 2020) — Larry Collmus, the voice of the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup on NBC television and a national race caller with 35 years of experience on his ledger, will become the announcer at Del Mar this summer when he steps in on a “pinch hitting” assignment for the track’s regular caller, Trevor Denman. Because of health concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Denman recently told Del Mar officials that he and his wife Robin did not wish to travel away from their Minnesota farm and asked to kindly bow out of his summer assignment. Del Mar, of course, said yes to the iconic announcer who has been its caller for the past 36 years. “When Trevor told us of his situation, we naturally had to respect what he was feeling,” said Josh Rubinstein, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club’s president and COO. “We immediately worked up a short list of possible replacements and Larry was the man we zeroed in on. Happily, he... ...

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CHRB Meeting Summary

From CHRB The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Thursday, June 11. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Dr. Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Wendy Mitchell, and Alex Solis. The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief: The Board approved a regulatory amendment that further restricts the use of the riding crop in both racing and training. The rule prohibits using the crop more than six times in the race, excluding simply showing the crop to the horse or tapping the horse on the shoulder, and within that limit prohibits using the crop more than two times in succession without giving the horse time to respond. The rule cites the proper way for using the crop in an underhanded position without it ever rising above the shoulders of the... ...

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Breeders’ Cup Members Announced

From Bloodhorse.com LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 10, 2020) — The Breeders’ Cup announced June 9 that 19 individuals were elected to serve as Breeders’ Cup members. Voting for the 2020 member election by Breeders’ Cup 2019 foal and stallion nominators concluded at 5:00 p.m. ET June 8. The following individuals, listed alphabetically, received the most votes of the Breeders’ Cup nominators to fill 19 member seats, and will serve four-year terms: Conrad Bandoroff, Barbara Banke, Jimmy Bell, Boyd Browning, Doug Cauthen, Craig Fravel, Eric Gustavson, Dr. Andreas Jacobs, W. Gray Lyster IV, Clem Murphy, Maria Niarchos-Gouazé, David O’Farrell, Bill Oppenheim, Bernie Sams, Alex Solis II, Oliver Tait, W. Elliott Walden, Barry Weisbord, Aron Wellman. “It is an honor to welcome our new and re-elected members to serve with us over the next four years,” said Fred Hertrich III, Breeders’ Cup chairman. “We look forward to their meaningful contributions, along with our other sitting members, toward our efforts to further grow and expand the popularity of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, improve... ...

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Racing Launches National Ad Campaign

From NTRA WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 28, 2020) — The NTRA has made a major financial commitment to a newly created national advertising campaign focused on the thrill of watching and wagering on horseracing. The campaign, titled “Still. Running. Strong.”, launched today by the Breeders’ Cup and The Jockey Club, represents a chance for horseracing to gain additional attention at a time when it is attracting widespread television coverage and is one of the only live sporting events currently being conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic.   “Now is an unprecedented opportunity for horseracing to attract additional fans and for the NTRA to support its members,” said Alex Waldrop, NTRA President and CEO. “With the extensive COVID-19 safety protocols that our racetrack operators have implemented for their employees and participants, the NTRA is glad to play a part in this collaborative initiative that showcases the best of what horseracing offers sports fans and bettors.”   The campaign includes broadcast, digital and social elements and highlights the bond between human and horse, along... ...

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