Board Proposes Whipping Amendment

The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) conducted its regular meeting Thursday, March 24, at Cal Expo.

Vice Chairman Richard Rosenberg presided. Commissioners Madeline Auerbach, Steve Beneto, 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:

· The Board approved the Sahara Dunes Casino (Lake Elsinore Hotel) to accept wagers on horse racing. Ten other minisatellites already are operating within California private businesses, such as card cards, sports bars, and restaurants, so this will be the 11th. Wagering also is offered at 29 other racetracks and simulcast facilities throughout the state.

· The Board approved for public notice a proposed regulatory amendment to both encourage the proper use of the whip and reduce its use in harness racing by, for example, prohibiting drivers from using the whip more than three times in succession without giving the horse a chance to respond. A similar rule governing use of the riding crop already is in effect in California thoroughbred and quarter horse racing.

· In his report to the Board, Executive Director Rick Baedeker announced that a regulatory amendment requiring that claims be voided when the claimed horse bleeds visibly from the nostrils following a race has received final approval and will go into effect July 1.

· The Board approved the license of the Los Alamitos Thoroughbred Racing Association to operate a daytime thoroughbred meet at Los Alamitos from April 13 through May 3.

· The Board voted to suspend authorization for the administration of clenbuterol to all horses participating in quarter horse races, not just quarter-horse participants.

· The Medication and Track Safety Committee reported on its March 16 meeting. Two items under discussion pertaining to trainers providing certain information to owners of horses claimed and to CHRB investigators have been referred to an industry task force led by the California Thoroughbred Trainers and the Thoroughbred Owners of California.

(CHRB)

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