The California Horse Racing Board conducted a public meeting in Del Mar at the Del Mar Hilton on Thursday, July 14, 2022. Chairman Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners 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. In brief:
- Chairman Ferraro reported on the meeting the previous day of the Medication, Safety, and Welfare Committee convened by himself and Commissioner Hudnut. The agenda focused on efforts to protect horses and riders, including proposed regulatory amendments focusing on horses with particular profiles that research indicates are at a greater risk of injury, particularly horses returning from layoffs. To that end, the Board approved for public notice three amendments detailing extensive procedures and requirements pertaining to racing and training soundness examinations and the reporting of same. Horses that have not raced or worked for extended periods, including 2-year-olds that have never raced or worked, and certain horses coming off the Veterinarian's List, as well as certain horses arriving from jurisdictions not overseen by the CHRB, will be subject to these amended rules.
Dr. Ferraro also reported on a discussion of a proposal to set limits on the accumulation of high-speed furlongs in works and races, again based on research at the University of California, Davis, that has determined unequivocally that excessive high-speed activity increases the risk of serious injury. Commissioner Hudnut, Chief Veterinary Dr. Tim Grande, and industry representatives pointed to the difficulties of crafting such a rule, given differences in training methods, track surfaces, horse abilities, and other variables. Dr. Ferraro said it became clear that the matter requires further study.
Another proposed regulatory amendment would limit multiple inter-articular injections to a single joint within a certain timeframe and require diagnostics in advance of those injections. The Board directed staff to draft such a rule for future consideration.
- The Board approved the license for Golden Gate Fields to conduct a race meet that will operate from August 26 through October 2.
- The Board approved the license for the Humboldt County Fair to conduct a race meet that will operate from August 19 through August 28. Note that the final week of racing in Ferndale will overlap with the first week of racing at Golden Gate.
- The Board approved the license for the Sonoma County Fair to conduct a race meet that will operate from August 4 through August 14. This marks a return of live racing in Santa Rosa following the pandemic. In conjunction with the license, the Board approved an agreement between the Fair and the Thoroughbred Owners of California regarding entry conditions.
- The Board authorized the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association to conduct a horse sale on August 18 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. Such sales are subject to the rules of the CHRB and the requirement for a veterinarian to oversee the health of the horses.
- The Board authorized Fasig-Tipton to conduct a horse sale on September 27 at Fairplex Park in Pomona.
- In his report to the Board, Executive Director Scott Chaney noted that equine fatalities decreased by 8 percent during the last fiscal year, from 72 to 66. This followed a decease of 50 percent in the previous two fiscal years. “As the overall numbers approach zero, each successive reduction will be more difficult, but the CHRB is committed despite this challenge,” said Chaney. “As the Board knows, the HISA safety regulations went into effect on July 1. From a substantive standpoint, stakeholders will see little change. Logistically, there are hurdles and we are working through them in partnership with the Authority (HISA).
“In speaking about the changes under HISA, however, I would be remiss in not acknowledging that the crop rule became less strict here on July 1,” Chaney continued. “Thoroughbred riders may now strike overhand. It is also not lost on me that the British Horse Racing Authority (BHA) just announced that they will no longer allow overhand striking in racing (other than for safety). It is difficult to see the BHA make a positive step forward while we, through no fault of our own, take a step backwards. I urge the Authority to reconsider their approach to crop use, and in so doing, acknowledge what is exceedingly clear to me, that the riding crop does not have a future in horse racing.”
- The Board approved a change of officers at Game Play Network, a licensed ADW.
- Public comments made during the meeting can be accessed through the meeting audio archive on the CHRB website.
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