CHRB Meeting Summary

Nov 18, 2016 Posted by In Announcement

From CHRB

DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 18, 2016) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted its regular meeting Thursday, November 17, at the Del Mar Surfside Race Place. Chairman Chuck Winner presided. Commissioners Madeline Auerbach, Steve Beneto, Jesse Choper and George Krikorian also were in attendance.

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 2017 race dates allocations for the Northern California thoroughbred and fairs circuit as follows: Golden Gate Fields, December 21, 2016, through June 20; Pleasanton, June 21 through July 11; Cal Expo, July 12 through August 1; Santa Rosa, August 2 through August 22; Ferndale, August 23 through September 5; Golden Gate, August 23 through September 19; Pleasanton, September 20 through October 3; Fresno, October 4 through October 17; and Golden Gate, October 18 through December 19.

The individual associations and fairs will designate in each of their license applications the actual starting and ending dates of their meets within these date allocations. The Sonoma County Fair Board must inform the CHRB within 30 days whether they intend to run the final, third week of the three weeks of racing allocated to them. Should they decide not to run that third week, the Humboldt County Fair would begin its meet one week earlier and end one week earlier, reducing its overlap with Golden Gate. During any overlap period between Golden Gate and the Humboldt County Fair, Golden Gate cannot card races for horses with a claiming price less than $5,000.

  • The Board issued short-term licenses through January to each of the six Advance Deposit Wagering companies authorized to accept wagers in California. The six companies were asked to submit additional financial information on their California ADW operations along with policy statements on their current and future contributions to California horse racing, such as racing-related charities.
  • The Board approved the license application for the Pacific Racing Association to conduct a race meet at Golden Gate Fields from December 26 through June 20 on condition that certain agreements and approvals are submitted within 30 days. Because the track has enlarged its stable area to 1,500 stalls, Golden Gate will not use Pleasanton as an auxiliary training facility unless the horse population requires it. The Board will review the matter in the spring to determine whether Golden Gate continues to have a sufficient number of stalls to accommodate newly turned 2-year-olds without utilizing Pleasanton.
  • The Board approved the license application for the Los Angeles Turf Club to operate a race meet at Santa Anita Park from December 26, 2016, through July 4, also on condition that certain agreements and approvals are submitted within 30 days.
  • The Board approved the license application for the Los Alamitos Horse Racing Association to conduct a thoroughbred race meet at Los Alamitos from December 7 through December 20.
  • The Board approved the license application for Watch and Wager LLC to conduct a harness meet at Cal Expo from December 26, 2016, through May 21.
  • In his executive summary, Executive Director Rick Baedeker commended the Breeders’ Cup and Santa Anita along with CHRB licensing, enforcement and veterinary personnel and the stewards for “two glorious days of racing without a hitch.” He also noted that despite the influx of jockeys from around the country and the world, there were no violations of the riding crop rule during any of the Breeders’ Cup races.
  • The Board approved for 45-day notice a proposed rule amendment allowing the stewards to declare any horse a non-starter or to run for purse money only in any instance where the horse receives an unfair start through no fault of its own. The Board will conduct a public hearing on this proposal following the notice period.
  • The Board approved a change to the jockey’s riding fee as required by statute.
  • The Board authorized the Los Alamitos Quarter Horse Racing Association to distribute $27,412 in race day charity proceeds to five beneficiaries and for the Los Alamitos Racing Association to distribute $10,734 to five beneficiaries.

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