From CHRB
PLEASANTON, Calif (June 22, 2018) – The California Horse Racing Board conducted its regular meeting Thursday, June 21, at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. Chair Chuck Winner presided. Vice Chair Madeline Auerbach and Commissioners Jesse Choper, Fred Maas, Araceli Ruano and Alex Solis also 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 unanimously approved the license application for a summer race meet at Golden Gate Fields “contingent upon the receipt of agreements with each satellite wagering facility in Northern California, as required by law, including the TOC (Thoroughbred Owners of California) horsemen’s agreement and all other outstanding items mentioned in the staff analysis by the close of business on July 2, 2018.”
Although a number of issues have been publicly discussed, including Northern California racing dates and the viability of simulcast operations, the only issue before the Board Thursday was the license application submitted by Pacific Racing Association (PRA)) for the thoroughbred meet scheduled August 23 through September 30. CHRB Staff Counsel Robert Brodnik quickly brought the key issue into focus by reporting that he and other government counsel involved in horse racing concluded the PRA application was incomplete and in violation of California law. Brodnik cited various sections of the Business and Professions Code requiring Golden Gate to make its audiovisual signal available to all authorized satellite wagering facilities and accept wagers from those facilities, pursuant to agreements.
The Board has moved up its July meeting by one week to July 12 and will add Northern California race dates to the agenda in order to develop contingency plans in the event PRA chooses not to comply with the conditions of the license approval.
· The Board referred proposed regulatory rules to strengthen its out-of-competition-testing program back to the Medication, Safety and Welfare Committee, so that concerns expressed by horsemen’s groups can be addressed. The goal is to achieve consensus on the language and bring the proposals back to the full Board at the August 23 meeting.
· The Board approved the license for the Sonoma County Fair to operate a race meet in Santa Rosa from August 2 through August 12.
· The Board approved the license for the Humboldt County Fair to operate a race meet in Ferndale from August 16 to August 26.
· The Board approved the license renewal application for the Original Roadhouse Grill to operate a mini-satellite wagering operation in Santa Maria for a period up to five years.
· The Board authorized the distribution of race day charity proceeds by the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club and Pacific Racing Association to the California Retirement and Management Account.
· The Board authorized the distribution of $4,000 in race day charity proceeds by Watchandwager.com to five beneficiaries.
· The Board approved the Fiscal Year 2018-19 agreement providing funding support for the CHRB.