Moger, LaRoche, and Taboada Resign from TOC

Three directors of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) have resigned from their positions in protest of the board's co-signature on a proposal to the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) that would concretize racing operations in South California at the expense, they say, of a potential viable racing circuit in the North.

The former directors also claim the proposal was submitted without their prior knowledge.

“On January 5th a letter from the TOC and the Southern California racetrack operators was sent to the CHRB requesting the allocation of race dates for late 2024 and 2025. Of course, these race date allocations would pre-empt the opportunity for a racing circuit in the North. The key point here is that this letter was written without our knowledge and despite the fact that the entire board met two days prior,” write Lindsay LaRoche, Johnny Taboada and Ed Moger in a letter to the TOC dated Jan. 12.

“By no means are these the only times the interests of Northern California members have been ignored or subjugated by TOC leadership,” the letter adds. “It is clear to us that the current leadership is not being transparent and not working to represent the entire state of California.”

The resignations come at a fraught time for the California racing industry as it attempts to piece together a revised racing framework in the wake of Golden Gate's impending closure in June and amid declining economic benchmarks.

With the clock ticking, complicating matters is how the California Association of Racing Fairs (CARF) has yet to publicly submit a proposal as to a potential Northern racing circuit beyond its annual fair dates. This year's fair schedule is currently set to close out with a fall fair meet at Fresno from Oct. 2 through the 13.

According to TOC president and CEO, Bill Nader, the board members were indeed informed during its meeting earlier this month that the organization would be submitting a letter to the CHRB ahead of its Thursday board meeting, outlining plans for consolidated racing operations in the South as a contingency “in the event the North does not put forward a viable plan that gains CHRB approval.”

“As far as the details in the packet, I wanted that included for transparency so that everyone had a chance to look at it before the meeting commenced–it's a lot to take in on the spot,” said Nader.

In a joint submission to the CHRB, the TOC, Los Alamitos chairman and CEO Ed Allred, I/ST Racing and Gaming CEO Aidan Butler, and Del Mar president and COO Josh Rubinstein ask the regulator to allocate race dates for the last 14 weeks of 2024 and for 2025 with operations concentrated in the South–beyond the Northern fair meets–citing the tough economics of currently maintaining twin North-South racing circuits.

The submission outlines a set of proposals, including a possible legislative change to permit Los Alamitos to card night Thoroughbred races beyond 4 1/2 furlongs for $5,000 claimers and below, and $8,000 maiden claimers.

Los Alamitos vice president Jack Liebau recently told the TDN that a legislative fix to go into immediate effect–as opposed to the start of January 2025, like most bills passed this year–needs an “urgency clause” requiring a two-thirds vote by the legislature.

Nader said that no decision will be made during this Thursday's CHRB meeting about race-date allocations.

“I personally do not see this discussion on the 18th being contentious,” said Nader, about the upcoming CHRB meeting. “I think it's just stating the facts and opening eyes to where we've been in the last 20 years, where we are now, and where we're going. No decisions will be made–it's only background.”

Nader also said that at the behest of the TOC, track management at Del Mar, Santa Anita and Los Alamitos had pushed back the deadline for the allocation of race-dates–from what would have required an “emergency” CHRB meeting in February to the regular CHRB meeting in March.

“At our board meeting [earlier in January], all three tracks had the opportunity to be present and speak at the beginning of the meeting. We did speak to them and we did get them to relax their position, to say that they were willing to wait until the 21st of March, at the March CHRB meeting,” said Nader, who added that CARF executive director, Larry Swartzlander, declined an offer to attend the TOC meeting.

“So, we were being responsive and respectful to the North,” Nader said. “It's been six months, we still haven't seen a plan [from CARF]. There are people all through the state getting very anxious.”

In their resignation letter, the three former TOC directors also claim TOC leadership “does not represent the interests of Northern California owners,” highlighting the recently announced 25% cut in purses at Golden Gate Fields–a result of a $3-million deficit in the track's purse account.

“Recently, the Northern California Racing Committee unanimously voted to oppose the purse agreement proposal from 1/ST Racing for the final Golden Gate Fields race meets,” the letter states.

“The result of this vote was not deemed important enough by TOC leadership to effect the TOC's approval of the cuts or even to be presented to the TOC Board as a whole for a vote,” the letter adds.

“There are emails and board minutes that would suggest otherwise,” said Nader, when asked about these claims. He added in a follow-up text that the TOC “did discuss the GGF purse cuts” at the January Board Meeting.

“It's a struggle, North and South. It's just a difficult time,” Nader added. “I'm not being critical of anyone. It's just the environment we're in right now. Everybody's just a little teed up–it's unfortunate.”

Efforts to consolidate racing operations in the South were given a major fillip in September of last year, when California lawmakers passed legislation that means if Golden Gate Fields is not licensed to operate beyond July 1 this year, proceeds from simulcast wagering in the north are funnelled south when there is no live racing in the northern half of the state after that date.

Moger did not respond to a request for comment prior to publication.

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Chase the Chaos Lassos El Camino Real Derby

A last-out winner against optional claimers over the Tapeta at Golden Gate Dec. 30 by a tidy 7 1/2-lengths, Chase the Chaos (Astern {Aus}) broke his maiden under Robertino Diodoro at second-asking Sept. 17 at Canterbury Park. Switching to the Moger barn he was an outkicked third in the Golden Nugget S. Nov. 12 and caught late in the Gold Rush S. Dec. 3.

Up to the challenge against a pair of high-priced KEESEP grads who were invading for Bob Baffert in favorite Gilmore (Twirling Candy) and pacesetter Nullarbor (Candy Ride {Arg}), the gelding sat center of the pack, as he bided his time. Down the backstretch and into the far turn, the field steadily began to reel in Nullarbor. At the top of the lane with the outside splayed, Chase the Chaos made his move, running on gamely past the eighth pole to secure the victory by 1 1/2-lengths, plus collect 10 Kentucky Derby points and an invitation to the G1 Preakness S in mid-May.

Third dam Miss Marta produced hard-knocking Mister Marti Gras (Belong to Me), MGSW, Earnings $1,194,027, while the winner's dam is responsible for a yearling filly by Take Charge Indy. She was bred to Instagrand last year. As for sire Astern (Aus), this was his seventh stakes winner across the globe.

Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

EL CAMINO REAL DERBY, $101,350, Golden Gate Fields, 2-11, 3yo, 1 1/8m (AWT), 1:51.68, ft.
1–CHASE THE CHAOS, 122, g, 3, by Astern (Aus)
          1st Dam: Live the Moment, by Uncle Mo
          2nd Dam: From Jump Street, by Jump Start
          3rd Dam: Miss Marta, by Cure the Blues
($10,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Adam
Ference and Bill Dory; B-Dale N Krapf (PA); T-Ed Moger, Jr.;
J-Armando Ayuso. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 6-3-2-1,
$123,000.
2–Gilmore, 122, c, 3, Twirling Candy–My Surfer Girl, by Henny
Hughes. ($48,000 Wlg '20 KEENOV; $250,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP).
1ST BLACK TYPE. O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket
Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay Schoenfarber,
Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan; B-Dividing Ridge Farm (KY);
T-Bob Baffert. $20,000.
3–Harcyn, 122, c, 3, Goldencents–Florian, by Street Cry (Ire).
1ST BLACK TYPE. O/B-Jerome S. Moss (KY); T-Steve M.
Sherman. $12,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1, HD. Odds: 4.20, 1.80, 4.70.
Also Ran: Passarando, Nullarbor, Sea Dog, In Honor of Autism, Happy Does.

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Jack Owens Passes Away

Jack Owens, who recently retired as the longest-serving board member of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, passed away Nov. 21 after suffering a heart attack. Owens was first elected to the TOC board in 1995 and retired from board service in July. During his board tenure, Owens served six years as Chairman. He also served as Vice Chairman representing Northern California, Chairman of the Legislative and Government Affairs Committee, and as an active member of the Racing Affairs, Wagering, Bylaws Review, and Purse committees.

A graduate of Stanford, Owens practiced law for more than 30 years. Ed Moger, a current Northern California Trainer representative on the TOC board who served with Owens for the past 13 years, told TOC's Mary Forney, “Jack had a great legal mind that was invaluable to the board. He was so intelligent and always right on target.”

Moger, who also trained horses for Owens, added, “He loved the game, he loved his farm, and he loved his horses.”

Owens raced predominately in Northern California. Along with his wife, Barbara, he owned Riveroak Ranch in Stanislaus County.

Jack Owens is survived by his wife, Barbara, four children (John, David, James, and Allie) and four grandchildren (Jaclyn, Audrey, Murphy, and Riley). A celebration of life will be held on Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. at the Owens family ranch in Modesto. RSVPs may be addressed to Barbara Owens at owens444@aol.com.

Donations in Owens's memory may be made to the California Thoroughbred Horsemen's Foundation. Donations can be made at https://charities.org/donate or by check to CTHF, PO Box 660129, Arcadia, CA 91066.

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Weekly Stewards and Commissions Rulings, Apr. 19-25

Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky.

Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.

California

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 04/20/2022
Licensee: Ed Moger, trainer
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Out of competition medication violation
Explainer: Trainer Ed Moger, who worked the horse Squalotoro for removal from the Veterinarian's List on March 10, 2022, at Santa Anita Park, is fined $500.00 pursuant to California Horse Racing Board Rules #1887(a) (Trainer or Owner to Insure Condition of Horse) for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1866(h) (Veterinarian's List), #1843(a)(b)(d) (Medication, Drugs and Other Substances) and Rule #1843.1(a) (Prohibited Drug Substances – Phenylbutazone – Class 4).

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 04/20/2022
Licensee: Bob Hess, trainer
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Out of competition medication violation
Explainer: Trainer Robert Hess, who worked the horse Rantanen for removal from the Veterinarian's List on February 14, 2022, at Santa Anita Park, is fined $500.00 pursuant to California Horse Racing Board Rules #1887 (Trainer or Owner to Insure Condition of Horse) for violation of California Horse Racing Board Rule #1866(h) (Veterinarian's List), #1843(a)(b)(d) (Medication, Drugs and Other Substances), Rule 1844(d)(1) (Authorized Medication) and Rule #1843.1 (Prohibited Drug Substances – 5-Hydroxy Dantrolene [Class 4]).

Track: Santa Anita
Date: 04/20/2022
Licensee: Diego Herrera, jockey
Penalty: $1,000 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: Apprentice Jockey Diego Herrera is fined $1,000.00 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule #1688(b)(8)(d) (Use of Riding Crop – more than six times – third offense in the past sixty days) during the eighth race at Santa Anita Park on April 17, 2022.

Kentucky
The following ruling was not posted in time for inclusion last week.

Track: Keeneland
Date: 04/10/2022
Licensee: Brian Hernandez, Jr., jockey
Penalty: $500 fine
Violation: Excessive use of the whip
Explainer: After waiving his right to a hearing before the Board of Stewards, Brian J. Hernandez, Jr., who rode Cilla in the seventh race at Keeneland on April 9, 2022, was found to have violated the crop regulation. This being his first offense, Mr. Hernandez was given the option and chose to pay a fine. Brian Hernandez, Jr. is hereby fined $500.00 for his improper use of the riding crop by exceeding the allowable use in the overhand manner. Upon receipt of this ruling, it is required within 30 days to pay any and all fines imposed to the Kentucky horse Racing Commission. Failure to do so will subject the licensee to summary suspension of license pursuant to 810 KAR 3:020 Section 15 (cc).

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