The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) conducted its regular meeting Thursday, August 23, at Del Mar Surfside Race Place.

Chair Chuck Winner presided. Vice Chair Madeline Auerbach and Commissioners Fred Maas and Jesse Choper also 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:

· Acting on a recommendation from Medication Committee Chair Madeline Auerbach and Committee Member Solis, the Board approved for public notice a proposed regulation to require veterinarians for horses claimed in races to report the administration of any intra-articular injections to the new veterinarians. The official veterinarian will oversee this procedure but the information itself will pass directly from one practicing veterinarian to another, retaining its confidentiality. Vice Chair Auerbach stressed the cooperative nature of discussions with veterinarians, trainers and owners that led to agreement on this matter.

· The Board approved the license application for Pacific Racing Association (PRA) to conduct a race meet at Golden Gate Fields that will run from October 17 through December 9. However, the license is contingent on PRA submitting “agreements with each satellite wagering facility in Northern California, as required by law, including the TOC horsemen’s agreement and all other outstanding items mentioned in the staff analysis, by the close of business on September 10, 2018. This condition is in the public interest and serves the purpose of the California horse racing law.”

· The Board approved the license application for the Los Angeles Turf Club to conduct a race meet at Santa Anita Park that will run from September 27 through November 4. This license application along with the Golden Gate application did not include an Advance Deposit Wagering agreement with TwinSpires. The Board approved the licenses without those agreements but indicated its strong desire that this issue be resolved before the new racing year. Also, a camera will be placed in the stewards’ stand beginning with this meet at Santa Anita. Additional details will be discussed in a future news release.

· John Valenzuela, president of Local 280, announced that a temporary agreement has been reached to continue the current contract with pari-mutuel clerks through October 2. Negotiations are continuing for a long-term agreement.

· The Board approved the license application for the Big Fresno Fair to conduct a race meet in Fresno that will run from October 4 through October 14.

· The Board approved the license application for Watch and Wager LLC to conduct a harness meet at Cal Expo that will run from November 10 through December 13.

· Scott Daruty, representing The Stronach Group, reported progress on Santa Anita’s plan to construct 800 new, additional stalls in what is now the north parking lot. Stabling in Northern California will be discussed at a committee meeting in September.

· Chairman Winner reported that issues still need to be resolved with the 2019 racing calendar for Northern California but the Race Dates Committee will be recommending dates for the thoroughbred tracks in Southern California as well as night quarter horse and harness racing that will mirror this year’s calendar.

· The Board approved Angie Carmona, Dr. Victor Levine and Eric Sindler for two-year terms on the Board of Directors for the California Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Foundation, which provides health care and other benefits to backstretch workers and their families.

(CHRB)