From CHRB
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Sept. 19, 2025) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting Thursday, September 18, at Cal Expo. Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales chaired the meeting, joined by Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, Thomas Hudnut, and Peter Stern.
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 authorized the Keeneland Championship Sale to conduct its second championship horse sale on Wednesday, October 29, in the Del Mar paddock in conjunction with the Breeders’ Cup (October 31, November 1). The sale will include Breeders’ Cup contenders, direct relations to Breeders’ Cup runners, and stallion shares or breeding rights in Breeders’ Cup entrants or hot sires. The Sale provided these details:
- Horses may be entered in the Keeneland Championship Sale at any time prior to the auction by contacting the Keeneland sales team, who will provide concierge entry services.
- Given the Keeneland Championship Sale’s proximity to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, all cataloged horses will be offered remotely but will be available for inspection by appointment with the seller in their respective locations.
- Video of each hip also will be available to prospective buyers.
- As a condition of sale, buyers will be prohibited from changing trainers or jockeys for Breeders’ Cup races.
- Any change in ownership of any horse located on Del Mar’s grounds would be memorialized by a notarized bill of sale, included in Del Mar’s track program, and announced where necessary.
- The Keeneland sales team will also work with potential purchasers before the auction to ensure that licensing and stable name applications are in order.
- All CHRB and Breeders’ Cup testing and security protocols will be observed
- The Board approved changes to Xpressbet’s plan of operation for advanced deposit wagering. Among the changes, Xpressbet has entered into an asset purchase agreement with Sports Information Group, LLC dba Daily Racing Form (DRF), which includes assuming full ownership of the former “DRFBets” website, rebranding the site to “1/ST BET PRO,” and assuming 100% ownership of former DRF customers.
- The Board authorized the Los Angeles Turf Club to distribute $84,755 in race day charity proceeds to 10 beneficiaries. All of the distributions are being made to equine and/or horse racing-related charity organizations, including $25,926 to the Permanently Disabled Jockey’s Fund.
- Deputy Executive Director Cynthia Alameda reported that the next Board meeting will be conducted October 16 in Sacramento, but a specific venue has yet to be determined. Cal Expo has accommodated Board meetings for many years, but as all racing has ceased at Cal Expo, a decision has been made to hold monthly Board meetings elsewhere. Vice Chair Gonzales took the opportunity to thank Cal Expo for its many years of service to the Board.
- During public comments, Vice Chair Gonzales welcomed Allen Aldrich to provide an update on plans to resume racing in Northern California in 2026. Aldrich, a longtime horse owner in Northern California, said interest remains high among Northern California stakeholders to resume racing in 2026. Aldrich did not provide any specific dates or locations for racing in 2026.