From CHRB
ARCADIA, Calif. (May 24, 2014) – The California Horse Racing Board conducted its regular meeting Thursday, May 22, 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 first non-fair thoroughbred race meet at Los Alamitos race course, home of a year-round quarter horse meet, commencing July 3 through July 13. Los Alamitos will offer thoroughbred cards on Thursday-through-Sunday afternoons as well as night quarter horse programs weekend nights except July 4. Both HRTV and TVG will show the thoroughbred races.
· The Board approved the summer thoroughbred meet at Del Mar from July 17 through September 3. Del Mar Chief Operating Officer Josh Rubinstein reported that for the first time, both HRTV and TVG will broadcast the races for the summer meet.
· The Board approved the California Exposition and State Fair meet at Cal Expo from July 9 through July 20. Cal Expo Chief Executive Officer Rick Pickering reported that the State Fire Marshal has given the go-ahead for improvements to backstretch housing for stable workers.
· The Board approved the Sonoma County Fair meet at Santa Rosa from July 23 through August 10.
· CHRB Executive Director Rick Baedeker gave an executive report detailing regulatory changes that have been fully approved as well as others currently out for public notice. He also reported that funding requests have been submitted for additional CHRB investigators and for drug testing at the Maddy Laboratory at the University of California, Davis.
· The Board approved service, steward and official veterinary contracts for fiscal year 2014-15, along with the current contract for the official veterinarian at Cal Expo.
· Joe Morris, president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, reported a current inventory of about 2,900 thoroughbreds on the southern circuit stabled at Santa Anita, Los Alamitos, Fairplex Park, and San Luis Rey Training Center. Of those, 623 are 2 year olds.
· Chairman Winner publicly thanked Santa Anita for recent improvements to its turf course and also thanked Santa Anita and Del Mar for their efforts to protect and provide temporary stabling for horses during the recent fire dangers in northern San Diego County, the location of San Luis Rey.