SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 19, 2023) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at Cal Expo in Sacramento. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, and Brenda Washington Davis.
The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcastlink. In brief:
- In his report to the Board concerning the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act/Authority (HISA), Executive Director Scott Chaney said HISA’s Anti-Doping Medication Control program “is set to go into effect this coming Monday, May 22. As you may recall, before it was halted through a legal stay at the end of March, California participated in testing three race cards (two at Santa Anita and one at Golden Gate Fields) as well as some out-of-competition-testing (OOCT), mostly for removal from the Veterinarian’s List. After five days, the program was temporarily enjoined by a court in Texas. I believe we are prepared to begin the program anew on Monday.”
In his report to the Board, Dr. Jeff Blea, the CHRB equine medical director, added that all drug testing and enforcement for covered thoroughbreds will be under the jurisdiction of HISA as of Monday, while drug testing and enforcement for quarter horses and standardbreds will continue to be under the jurisdiction of the CHRB.
- The Board approved the license for the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club for a thoroughbred race meet that will operate from July 21 through September 10.Representatives of Del Mar expressed optimism that they will be able to duplicate or even exceed their past achievements in track safety, handle, and field size. Del Mar President/COO Josh Rubinstein announced a new program that will provide free dinners each racing evening to those in the backstretch community who take care of horses (e.g., grooms, hot walkers, and exercise riders). He said this could involve as many as 1,000 meals each night.
- The Board approved the license for the Alameda County Fair (ACF) for a fair meet in Pleasanton that will operate from June 16 through July 9. Representatives of ACF and the California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF) said they will again be stabling horses in Pleasanton and at other fair locations while the stable area at Golden Gate Fields is closed.
- The Board approved the license for the Los Angeles County Fair (LACF) for a fair meet at Los Alamitos that will operate from June 23 through July 9. LACF meets have been held at Los Alamitos since 2014.
- The Board approved for public notice a proposed regulatory amendment to prohibit the possession of specified weapons and ammunition within a CHRB inclosure. This followed reports that individuals were in possession of pellet guns in the stable area.
- The Board authorized the Thoroughbred Owners of California and CARF to continue utilizing a portion of their own ADW revenue for a marketing program.