From CHRB
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Jan. 19, 2024) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at Cal Expo in Sacramento. 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, accessed through the Media Room tab. In brief:
- The Board heard extensive testimony on the subject of 2024 date allocations for Northern California. The Board previously approved dates for Golden Gate Fields to run its final meet through June 2024 and for the fair season into early October. Allocations for the remaining months of 2024 have been on hold while northern interests discuss possible ways to fashion a northern circuit in the absence of the thoroughbred track that has been the anchor of northern racing for decades.
Larry Swartzlander, executive director of the California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF), speaking on behalf of all the northern fairs, presented a plan for Cal Expo in Sacramento to undergo extensive improvements in order to accommodate thoroughbred, fair, and harness racing. Key to the plan would be to build a seven-eighths-of-a-mile track inside of the existing one-mile oval. The smaller oval would be designated for harness racing, which holds a lease at Cal Expo.
Commissioner Mitchell asked for details on the timeline and cost of the Cal Expo proposal, expressing skepticism that it could be done. CHRB Executive Director Scott Chaney was more blunt when he said he believes the plan is unworkable. Commissioner Castellanos placed some blame on The Stronach Group, owner of Golden Gate, for not publicly revealing its intention to close Golden Gate earlier than its announcement last July, placing northern interests in a time crunch for formalizing their own plan.
Southern interests indicated a final decision on northern dates must be made by March in order to stabilize racing in California. Dozens of owners, trainers, breeders, and other interests in Northern California urged the Board to do everything possible to preserve racing in the north, including extending the dates deadline beyond March.
The next Board meeting is scheduled for March 21, again at Cal Expo, at which time the dates issues will again be discussed for possible action.
- Chaney reported that in calendar-year 2023, equine fatalities at all facilities within the CHRB’s jurisdiction totaled 82, compared with 64 in 2022. Fatalities had declined in each of the previous six years. Chaney pointed out that several new regulations are in the process of being implemented to further reduce fatalities, while others are contemplated.
- In the report from the Equine Medical Director, Dr. Jeff Blea spoke of the national effort to recruit veterinary students into horse-racing practices. This recruitment program includes limited financial incentives to those interested.
- The Board approved a modification of ADW revenue distribution to cover 2024 assessments by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act.
- The Board approved a separate modification of ADW revenue distribution to include distributions to Southern California Off-Track Wagering.
- The Board delegated authority to the executive director to deal with such matters as requested changes to the racing programs.
- The Board approved amendments dealing with fire prevention and fire regulations, as requested by the State Fire Marshal.
- The Board approved for public notice amendments to regulations dealing with postmortem examinations and reviews.