From CHRB
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Apr. 22, 2021) — The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Wednesday, April 21. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, and Wendy Mitchell.
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 for 45-day public notice and comment a proposed regulatory amendment to toughen and standardize penalties for violation of rules governing use of the riding crop. Key changes are the elimination of maximum penalties and addition of minimum penalties that the stewards may impose. The rule specifically states that stewards may issue greater penalties where the violation is “egregious or intentional.” Commissioners expressed the hope that the regulatory process could be completed in time for the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar on November 5 and 6 of this year. Vice Chair Gonzales counseled that jockeys from other jurisdictions must be thoroughly informed of the riding rules in California.
· The Board rejected the renewal application for simulcast wagering at 58 Flat Sports Bar & Casino in Bonita after the operator failed to submit the required documentation, including an agreement with Southern California’s off-track wagering network (SCOTWINC). 58 Flat’s current license runs through May 26, 2021, so it could continue wagering operations through that date.
· The Board approved the initial license application for the Glen Arden Club in Glendale to offer wagering on horse racing. The business has an indoor seating capacity of 160, including 42 tables, and outdoor patio seating for an additional 50 patrons (14 tables). Glen Arden is expected to open this weekend.
· With the addition of Glen Arden and deletion of 58 Flat, 32 simulcast wagering facilities are licensed in California, 25 of which (and possibly 58 Flat) will be offering wagering this weekend. Those open facilities are located in Indio, Commerce, Del Mar, Bakersfield, Fresno, Albany, Inglewood, Lake Elsinore, Perris, Lancaster, Cypress, Monterey, San Clemente, Pleasanton, Sacramento, Lake Forest, San Bernardino, San Mateo, Arcadia, Santa Clarita, Norco, Thousand Oaks, Vallejo, Alpine, and now Glendale. Currently not open are seven facilities in Ventura, Pomona, Temecula, Santa Rosa, Victorville, Stockton, and San Jose. Maps in the CHRB annual report list all racetracks and simulcast wagering facilities in California, aside from newly added Glen Arden.
· Executive Director Scott Chaney reported that Golden Gate Fields and the fairs in Northern California soon will have an entry panel similar to the Southern California thoroughbred circuit. The entry panel reviews health records, racing and training records, and other pertinent data to determine whether each entered horse meets eligibility criteria and is suitable to race. Los Alamitos Quarter Horse racing has had an entry panel since last summer. Chaney said the CHRB is creating the new position of Chief Official Veterinarian, whose responsibilities will include refining the entry panel system.
· Dr. Rick Arthur, the CHRB’s equine medical director, reported on three separate webinar series for trainers and assistant trainers, regulatory veterinarians, and racing industry decision makers, all focusing on equine health and welfare issues.
· The Board approved a regulatory amendment to improve and streamline the process for adjudicating accusations pertaining to the illegal possession of electrical devices by referring all such accusations to the stewards rather than relying on the lengthy process of involving an administrative hearing officer. However, in cases where the stewards determine that revocation of license might be warranted, they will have authority to refer the matter to the Board for adjudication.
· Public comments made during the meeting can be accessed through the meeting audio archive on the CHRB website.