It has been announced that Scott Chaney has been appointed executive director of the California Horse Racing Board.

Chairman Greg Ferraro announced the news late last week.

Chaney, who assumed the post on Thursday, April 16, has replaced Rick Baedeker, who retired on March 31.

Chaney, who has been a steward in California since 2005, served initially on the Southern California Thoroughbred circuit and most recently at the Los Alamitos Quarter Horse meet. A graduate of Dartmouth, cum laude, Chaney went on to graduate with honours from the University of Southern California Law School. He remains a member of the State Bar of California.

Chaney grew up in Maryland, where his parents owned a few horses that raced at tracks in the state. With that background, and prior to becoming a steward, he groomed horses during summer breaks from law school, and then after graduation he became an assistant to trainer Darrell Vienna and travelled the country and world with horses.

CHRB commissioners and executives recognized Chaney’s talents early on when they assigned him to complicated legal cases, research, and analysis of matters beyond the normal duties of stewards. He has been one of the CHRB’s hearing officers since 2010.

“I have known Scott since he first arrived at the racetrack,” said Chairman Ferraro. “I have followed his career and know him to be a person with an excellent mind, fair in his judgments, and totally committed to the integrity of horse racing. I look forward to working with him in his new position, and I know he will do a great job.”

Chaney’s office will be in Sacramento, but his relocation may be delayed due to COVID-19 and the statewide stay-at-home order.

“When I became a steward, I saw my role as enforcing the rules in order to create a safe and fair environment for horses and licensees, as well as to protect the wagering public,” said Chaney. “As executive director, my duties become more expansive, but my basic role remains the same. Integrity, safety, and animal welfare are our principal concerns, especially in these challenging times."

(With files from the CHRB)