The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting on Thursday, November 16, 2023, at Los Alamitos Race Course. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Brenda Washington Davis, and Thomas Hudnut.
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:
- Continuing to cooperate with the Horseracing and Safety Authority (HISA) in every way, the Board agreed to collect and remit fees on behalf of HISA, as the Board did in 2022. The HISA assessments will cover California's share of both the anti-doping and medication control program and the racetrack safety program. Discussions are ongoing with HISA to determine the amount of credits California will receive for enforcing the federal rules.
- The Board also adopted HISA's recommended national concussion protocol for jockeys, which includes return-to-ride guidelines for jockeys declared fit to ride following an incident.
- The Board approved the license application for Los Alamitos Racing Association to operate a daytime Thoroughbred meet from December 8 through December 17. This meet will run concurrently with night Quarter Horse programs.
- The Board approved the license application for Los Alamitos Quarter Horse Racing Association to operate a night quarter-horse meet from December 23, 2023, through December 22, 2024. Los Alamitos is the only racetrack in California that operates throughout the full year. Los Alamitos is in the process of making $1 million in backside improvements.
- The Board approved the license application for the Los Angeles Turf Club to operate a Thoroughbred meet at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia from December 26. 2023, through June 16, 2024. The basic schedule for racing will be Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, with occasional programs on Mondays and also opening-day Tuesday and Thursday, June 13. Santa Anita is in the process of replacing its dirt training track with the Tapeta synthetic surface at a cost of more than $7 million.
- The Board approved the license application for Pacific Racing Association to operate a thoroughbred at Golden Gate Fields from December 26, 2023, through June 10, 2024. As currently scheduled, this will be the final race meet at Golden Gate before it is closed forever. Stakeholders in Northern California will be working to determine how racing will proceed without its anchor at Golden Gate.
- The Board approved Stephanie Hronis, Lucy Lawrence, and Dr. James T. Dunn as directors of the California Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation (CTHF).
- The commissioners took the opportunity to acknowledge retiring CTHF Executive Director Cliff Goodrich for his valued leadership of the organization that provides free health care services to racetrack workers. Commissioner Castellanos said Goodrich's “and his impact on a daily basis as well as his leadership during crises…has been substantial. His wisdom and character and the desire to always 'do the right thing' has benefited the backstretch workers, the CTHF staff and the overall racing industry. Vice Chair Gonzales presented Goodrich with a certificate of recognition signed by Assemblyman Mike Fong on behalf of the California Assembly.
- The Board authorized Los Alamitos Quarter Horse Racing Association to distribute $15,530 in race day charity proceeds to four beneficiaries.
- The Board approved a request to modify the distribution of certain ADW revenue to include funding a California co-op marketing program.
- In his report to the Board, Executive Director Scott Chaney said it was important to point out to stakeholders and licensees that “the regulation passed by this Board a few months ago regarding unsanctioned or 'match' racing will become effective on January 1. This new rule makes it a CHRB rule violation to participate in or be present at any event involving unsanctioned or unrecognized racing. While there is clearly more work to be done to combat this challenge to animal welfare, this is an important step in eliminating the practice. I believe it to be the first of its kind in the country.”
- In his report to the Board, Dr. Jeff Blea, equine medical director, reported that both of the horses that were injured during the running of Breeders' Cup races at Santa Anita earlier this month underwent successful surgery and are out of danger.
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