The California Horse Racing Board conducted a meeting by teleconference on Thursday, June 11. The public participated by dialing into the teleconference and/or listening through the audio webcast link on the CHRB website. Dr. Gregory Ferraro chaired the meeting, joined by Vice Chair Oscar Gonzales and Commissioners Dennis Alfieri, Damascus Castellanos, Wendy Mitchell, and Alex Solis.
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 a regulatory amendment that further restricts the use of the riding crop in both racing and training. The rule prohibits using the crop more than six times in the race, excluding simply showing the crop to the horse or tapping the horse on the shoulder, and within that limit prohibits using the crop more than two times in succession without giving the horse time to respond. The rule cites the proper way for using the crop in an underhanded position without it ever rising above the shoulders of the rider. The rule also prohibits using the crop during training except when necessary for the safety of the horse and rider. Under the required regulatory review process involving other state offices, this rule will not go into effect for several months at the earliest.
- The Board approved for 45-day public notice new specifications for construction of riding crops. The regulatory amendment will require all riding crops to be topped by shock-absorbing, smooth foam cylinders, which are demonstrated to be safer for horses
- The COVID-19 heath crisis has disrupted racing and fair operations in Northern California, forcing the Board to reallocate dates and approve modifications to racing license applications only for the year 2020. In a compromise supported by racing and fair executives that is designed to meet health protocols, while providing adequate and convenient stabling for horses on the Northern California circuit, the Board approved a revised racing and simulcasting calendar as follows:
At this time envisioned without spectators, the current meet at Golden Gate Fields will conclude (both racing and simulcasting) on June 16. From there racing and simulcasting will move to Pleasanton for the Alameda County Fair meet (June 17 through July 14), continue at Pleasanton for the relocated State Fair meet in Pleasanton (July 15 through July 28), move back to Golden Gate, initially for the relocated Sonoma County Fair meet at Golden Gate (July 29 through August 11), continue at Golden Gate with its own meet (August 12 through October 6), proceed to Fresno for the Big Fresno Fair meet (October 7 through October 20), then finally conclude at Golden Gate (October 21 through December 22). The precise racing dates for each meet (within those allocations) will be determined by the individual license applications. All meets will operate with protocols approved by their county heath officials. Golden Gate will continue to provide stabling during the Alameda County and Fresno fairs.
- Reflecting the approved date allocations, the Board approved the license application for the Alameda County Fair to run a fair meet in Pleasanton with racing set to begin June 19 and continue through July 12, conditioned on submission of specified required documents to the CHRB. At this time Alameda County health officials have not given approval for public participation.
- The Board approved the license application for the California Exposition and State Fair to run a fair meet in Pleasanton with racing set to begin July 17 and continue through July 26, conditioned on submission of specified required documents to the CHRB. At this time Alameda County health officials have not given approval for public participation.
- The Board approved the license application for the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club to run a race meet in Del Mar with racing set to begin July 10 and continue through September 7. At this time San Diego County health officials have not given approval for public participation.
- The Board approved separate agreements between the California Authority of Racing Fairs and Del Mar Thoroughbred Club with the Thoroughbred Owners of California authorizing the racing secretary for the State Fair meet at Pleasanton and the racing secretary for the Del Mar meet to establish conditions for races. The agreements prohibit anti-bleeding medication (Lasix) in 2-year-olds, limit Lasix to 250 mg, prohibit any intra-articular medication within 14 days of a race, and extend that prohibition to 30 days for fetlock injections, both metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints.
- The Board suspended Rule 1845(h) during the Del Mar meet, which required that syringes used to administer furosemide on race day be retained.
- The Board approved a regulatory amendment requiring individuals to hold an Assistant Trainer license in good standing for one year as a prerequisite for a Trainer license.
- The Board adopted a rule strictly limiting the use of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on racehorses. The new rule prohibits any horse from racing or participating in timed workouts in the mornings within 30 days of such treatment. As is currently CHRB policy, ESWT can only be administered in clearly designated areas, and each treatment must be carefully documented. Furthermore, no horse that received ESWT elsewhere within the previous 30 days can be brought onto a CHRB-regulated facility without prior approval of the Official Veterinarian. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is otherwise permitted within the restrictions of the regulation. Violations of the regulation will carry a Category A penalty, which is  a minimum one-year suspension and $10,000 fine.
- The Board permanently adopted the existing emergency regulation allowing the Board to suspend a race meet license when necessary to protect horses and riders.
- Extensive public comments made during the meeting can be accessed through the meeting audio archive on the CHRB website. The written transcript for the meeting will be posted when available.
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