From CHRB
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Feb. 21, 2025) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting Thursday, February 20, at Cal Expo. 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, accessed through the Media Room tab. In brief:
- The Board reaffirmed California horse racing’s commitment to working with the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act/Authority (HISA) by redirecting revenue from Advance Deposit Wagering to allow racetracks to pay their fair shares of 2025 HISA costs. Santa Anita will pay the most, $471,958, because it operates seven months of the year and has the most thoroughbred starts. Del Mar’s assessment is $277,437 for its 2½ months of racing. Altogether the tracks will pay $876,872 to HISA.
California’s obligation to HISA actually is significantly higher, nearly $7 million, but HISA credits California for picking up the substantial costs of drug testing, sample collection, investigations, and adjudication. These adjustments were achieved through cooperative negotiations between HISA and CHRB Executive Director Scott Chaney.
- In his report to the Board, Chaney announced that John Carvelli submitted his resignation for personal reasons to Governor Newsom on February 7, after serving six months as a racing commissioner.
- In the Equine Medical Director’s report to the Board, Dr. Jeff Blea described the efforts of the horse-racing community, particularly Santa Anita and Del Mar, in dealing with the recent fires in Southern California. Commissioner Alfieri joined in the praise. Dr. Blea noted that air quality was a particular concern, which prompted the cancelation of some racing programs out of concern for the participants. Santa Anita and Los Alamitos were never in direct danger from the fires. Horses were evacuated from San Luis Rey Downs out of precaution and taken primarily to Del Mar, but they were returned quickly as soon as the fire danger passed. Santa Anita provided food and other necessities to displaced residents.
- Vice Chair Gonzales, who has been proactively involved in all aspects of the racing situation in Northern California, after speaking with the leadership at each of the fairs, said both the Humboldt County Fair and Big Fresno Fair are contemplating race meets this year, but it appears unlikely that the Alameda County Fair, Sonoma County Fair, and State Fair will race in 2025.
Vice Chair Gonzales always has been especially concerned with the human element of horse racing – the well-being of the workers and their families – and noted how the closure of Golden Gate Fields and Golden State Racing has taken a toll on those workers. He said, “At some time this Board will have to assess the impact on the work force, which is significant. I think there will come a time when we have to have a conversation about what this Board’s role is or is not as it relates to other areas of impact, as it relates to significant setbacks.”
- During public comment, a former employee of racing in the north spoke about her loss of medical coverage and asked the Board to intervene on her behalf and for others in a similar situation. Additionally, an owner/breeder from Northern California expressed concern that not enough races were being written and run for NorCal horses at Santa Anita. The Board pledged to look into both matters.
- The Board authorized Chaney to deal administratively in a timely manner with requests for somewhat routine matters pertaining to post times, the cancelations of some pools, and changes to race dates.