An update to California Horse Racing Board Rule 1902 aimed at discouraging participation in unsanctioned horse racing will go into effect Jan. 1. The regulation change was approved by the CHRB in April and was handed off to California's Office of Administrative Law. That office approved the change on Oct. 13 with an effective date at the start of the new year.
Rule 1902 deals with conduct detrimental to horse racing and will now include prohibition of “participation in or presence at any non-recognized race meeting where racing occurred.”
In March, the CHRB discussed its response to welfare concerns about unsanctioned racing, which goes on with no drug testing, mandated pre-race veterinary exams, and no requirements for on-site veterinary (or human) emergency medical care. This publication provided the CHRB photographic evidence earlier this year of CHRB licensees participating in unsanctioned races (also known commonly as bush races or brush races) around the country, and an animal rights group made a presentation before the organization in December 2022.
The American Horse Council released the following statement in response to the approval from the OAL–
“The AHC applauds the California Horse Racing Board for adopting a new regulation that bans licensees from participating in illegal, unsanctioned horse racing,” said Julie Broadway, President of AHC. “Our organization has been educating state law enforcement and regulators on the dangers of illegal, unsanctioned horse racing for many years since the scope of the issue was brought to our attention. It is encouraging to see progress and we hope other states will act.
“The harm caused to horses at these illegal races is significant. There are numerous documented reports of horses being injured and dying at these races due to injections of illegal and inappropriate substances, abuse, and exhaustion. In addition to the crime of animal cruelty, further harm occurs in the form of disease transmission. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has found that clusters of equine infectious anemia and equine piroplasmosis in racehorses are often associated with unsanctioned racing. These diseases are easily transmitted and can infect working and pleasure horses across the entire United States.
“What is of equal concern are the serious consequences for the health and well-being of humans. Patrons and jockeys are at risk in these unsafe environments because these venues are magnets for additional criminal activity.”
“The AHC will continue to urge states to move more aggressively to shut these tracks down,” Broadway concluded.
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