SUMMARY OF CHRB ACTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS 6-23-11
INGLEWOOD, CA – The California Horse Racing Board conducted its regular monthly meeting Thursday, June 23, at Hollywood Park. Chairman Keith Brackpool presided. Vice Chairman David Israel and Commissioners Jesse Choper, Bo Derek, John Harris, Jerry Moss, and Richard Rosenberg were in attendance.
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 received a report from CHRB Director Kirk Breed and representatives of Santa Anita Park indicating a plan for remediation of the main track – completely paid for by Santa Anita – has been approved by all involved parties (Santa Anita, California Thoroughbred Trainers (CTT), Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), and CHRB). Work is scheduled to begin July 11 to dilute the overly high clay content of the main track by adding clean sand in an effort to restore the dirt track as closely as possible to its original condition when it was installed late last year. The main track will be closed for training during this project but the training track at Santa Anita will remain open for horses stabled there. Should the remediation process take longer than the estimated 10 to 14 days, Hollywood Park has agreed to remain open for auxiliary stabling and training until the Santa Anita main track is reopened.
• The Board approved the license application for the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club to conduct a race meet at Del Mar from July 20 through September 7. Del Mar representatives indicated they will be offering two new reduced-takeout wagers: a daily Pick Five (50-cent minimum) on the first five races at a 14-percent takeout rate and a head-to-head wager with a 10-percent takeout between two horses competing in Saturday’s eighth race, usually the feature race, as selected by the racing office. Del Mar also will add a $50,000 carryover to any Sunday’s Pick Six pool when there is no regular carryover from Saturday.
• The Board approved a waiver to California horse racing law allowing the Stronach Group to own more than one racing facility/operation in the state. Declaring that the Stronach Group’s ownership of Santa Anita, Golden Gate Fields, and XpressBet would be “in the best interest of horse racing,” the Board imposed essentially the same conditions for the waiver granted to the Stronach Group as were required for the waiver granted last year to MID. Ownership of these properties is scheduled to be transferred from MID to the Stronach Group next week.
• The Board approved the service, steward, and official veterinarian contracts for fiscal year 2011-2012.
• The Board approved the license application for a race meet operated by the Humboldt County Fair at Ferndale from August 12 through August 21.
• The Board approved the license application for a harness race meet operated by the California Exposition and State Fair Harness Association in Sacramento from August 26 through December 17.
• The Board approved for public notice a proposed regulatory amendment revising the application to conduct a race meet. The revisions include requirements for additional financial information from applicants. Comments are welcome from the public and various interested parties on the best format for the application.
• The Board approved requests submitted by the affected racing associations and horsemen to continue subsidizing simulcast wagering operations in both Northern and Southern California with a portion of market access fees from Advance Deposit Wagering earmarked for purses and racetrack commissions.
• The Board authorized the distribution of $23,962 in race day charity proceeds by the Oak Tree Racing Association to eight beneficiaries.
#
rw
