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SUMMARY OF CHRB ACTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS 12-15-11
INGLEWOOD, CA – The California Horse Racing Board conducted its regular meeting Thursday, December 15, at Hollywood Park. Chairman Keith Brackpool presided. Vice Chairman David Israel and Commissioners Bo Derek, Jesse Choper, 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 approved one-year licenses for TVG and XpressBet to continue providing Advance Deposit Wagering in California. The Board also approved a four-month license for TwinSpires following a discussion of the ADW company’s commitment to the health and welfare of jockeys. The Board will consider extending TwinSpires’ license to a one-year term no later than the April meeting.
· The Board approved date allocations for the Humboldt County Fair and Golden Gate summer meets, which completed action on the 2012 racing calendar. Under an agreement reached between Humboldt, Golden Gate, the California Authority of Racing Fairs (CARF), and Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), Humboldt will operate four days of non-overlapped racing on August 15, 16, 22, and 23, and will serve as host for simulcast racing in Northern California on those dates. Golden Gate will race overlapped with Humboldt on August 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, and 26, and will serve as simulcast host on those six dates.
· Santa Anita Park President George Haines reported there was no structural damage to the grandstand during the recent severe storm and racing will safely return to Arcadia on the traditional day after Christmas. Haines said crews are working on lighting and landscaping and repairing other damage in public areas prior to December 26. Repairs also are well underway in the barn area.
· The Board put over until February a final decision on staffing for ambulances present at racetracks during races and during morning training hours for the protection of riders. In the meantime, those racetracks voluntarily staffing ambulances with paramedics will continue to provide that high level of service. Commissioner Derek will chair a meeting in January to address this matter.
· The Board instructed staff to draft three alternative texts for possible rule amendments to deal with repeated problems in reporting the gelding of horses in the prescribed, timely manner. The Board will consider at the January meeting amendments to increase the fines and/or withhold the trainer’s share of purses from trainers who violate this rule. The Board also will consider a third proposal to have a horse run for purse money only as a non-wagering interest if the public is not informed of the horse’s sex change until after the close of affected wagering pools.
· Advised that the Medication and Track Safety Committee will on January 10 review the rule allowing a claim to be voided if a claimed horse suffers a fatality during the running of a race or before the horse is returned to be unsaddled, the Board delayed consideration of the feasibility of amending that rule.
· The Board authorized the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club to distribute $137,534 in race day charity proceeds to 17 beneficiaries.
· The Board asked representatives of the California Marketing Committee to provide a detailed report of their 2012 marketing and promotion plans at an upcoming Board meeting.
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