From CHRB
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Oct. 16, 2025) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting Thursday, October 16, at the Department of Consumer Affairs in Sacramento. Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales chaired the meeting, joined by Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Brenda Washington Davis, 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 approved the license application for the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club to conduct a race meet in Del Mar that will operate from October 30 through November 30. The meet will be highlighted by the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, set for October 31 and November 1. Track President Josh Rubinstein reported there will be a 7-percent increase in purses for this fall meet.
- The Board approved race-date allocations for quarter horses and thoroughbreds in 2026 that largely mirror the calendar for 2025. The allocations begin December 17, 2025, at Santa Anita, through June 16, followed by dates at Del Mar (July 8-September 8), Los Alamitos (September 9-September 22), Santa Anita (September 23-November 3), Del Mar (November 4-December 1), and finally Los Alamitos (December 2-December 15). The Board also allocated the usual year-long quarter-horse dates at Los Alamitos. Northern California interests have not submitted any proposals.
- The Board agreed again to opt-into collecting fees for the Horseracing and Safety and Integrity Authority (HISA) to cover California’s share of the anti-doping and medication control program and the racetrack safety program for calendar year 2026.
- The Board agreed to enter a voluntary implementation agreement with the Horseracing and Safety and Integrity Authority (HISA) and the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare Unit (HIWU) to provide enforcement services. The credits California receives for these services greatly offset the assessments HISA charges California for its share of the HISA program.
- The Board approved the license application for the Los Alamitos Racing Association to conduct a thoroughbred meet at Los Alamitos that will operate from December 5 through December 14.
- The Board approved the distribution of several race-day charity proceeds as follow: $2,657 to four beneficiaries by the Los Alamitos Racing Association; $13,783 to four beneficiaries by the Los Alamitos Quarter Horse Racing Association, and $5,500 to five beneficiaries by Watchandwager.com.
- The Board introduced an agenda item titled “The Future of Racing in California” that will periodically be included in future agendas. Commissioner Stern focused on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), which he predicted will affect every sport, including horse racing. He said horse racing needs to embrace the opportunities that AI offers. Vice Chair Gonzales said he wants this agenda item to focus on other issues in the future, including computer-assisted wagering (CAW), the status of one-circuit racing in California, supporting workers, and revenue streams for purses.
- In his report to the Board, Executive Director Scott Chaney said the licensing office will open at Del Mar this weekend in anticipation of increased activity for the Breeders’ Cup. He also pointed out that the Board meeting date for November has been changed to Wednesday, November 19, at the Cannabis Control Appeal Panel Hearing in Sacramento. And he urged those interested to check with the CHRB website to see changes to the 2026 meeting calendar.
- In his report to the Board, Dr. Jeff Blea, equine medical director, praised the performance of regulatory veterinarians in California and presented statistics demonstrating how accurate they are at identifying and scratching at-risk horses. “Their decisions are not made casually,” he affirmed.