From CHRB
ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 22, 2014) – The California Horse Racing Board conducted its regular meeting Friday, February 21, 2014, at Santa Anita Park. Chairman Chuck Winner presided. 1st Vice Chair Bo Derek, 2nd Vice Chair Richard Rosenberg, and Commissioners Madeline Auerbach, Steve Beneto, Jesse Choper, and George Krikorian were in attendance.
The audio of this entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link. In brief:
· The Board approved the application for the Los Angeles Turf Club to conduct a race meet at Santa Anita Park from April 25 through June 29, essentially a continuation of the current meet in Arcadia that runs through April 20, with a four-day break in between. The application was approved pending clarification of the schedule of stake races historically run in Southern California.
· Several commissioners reported on working with racetracks on the development of fire evacuation plans as well as fire prevention measures. These efforts will continue and their progress will be detailed in public reports.
· The Board approved for 45-day public notice a proposed regulatory amendment to eliminate the maximum daily restriction on samples that may be tested and to give the CHRB access to horses stabled at non-CHRB regulated facilities by requiring them to be registered in advance of racing and thereby subject to out-of-competition testing.
· The Board voted to direct portions of the existing takeout from exotic wagering pools to help fund workers’ compensation programs for thoroughbreds, quarter horses, standardbreds and fairs, within the limits authorized by statute.
· The Board voted to deduct a portion of market access fees generated by Advance Deposit Wagering in Southern California to help offset stabling and vanning expenses at southern racetracks and training facilities, as permitted by statute.
· The Board authorized the distribution of $37,403 in race day charity proceeds by the Los Angeles Turf Club II to 13 beneficiaries.
· The Board approved a two-year license for the Game Play Network Inc. to conduct Advance Deposit Wagering once they provide several outstanding items required of all ADW companies. While Game Play will operate a traditional ADW website for all, the major focus will be to attract non-racing fans that play online games.