The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) conducted its regular meeting Thursday, October 18 at Santa Anita Park where it approved the license application for Watch and Wager LLC to conduct a harness meet at Cal Expo.
The meet will run from December 26 through May 25. Representatives of the harness meet said they anticipate offering three nights of racing per week – Thursday, Friday, and Saturday – beginning opening night December 26.·
The Board also approved license applications for the Los Angeles Turf Club, Pacific Racing Association, and Los Alamitos Quarter Horse Racing Association.
The Board approved for 45-day public notice a regulatory amendment to bring California in step with the national movement to tighten the procedures for administering furosemide (anti-bleeding medication) to horses on the day of the race. Under the proposed changes, Lasix would be the only authorized bleeder medication, eliminating estrogens, and veterinarians with a private practice at the track would no longer be allowed to administer any medication on race day. The Board asked staff to work with the Medication Committee to develop uniform procedures for implementation of the new requirements and to present them for consideration when the Board conducts a public hearing on this matter in January.·
The Board approved a new regulation prohibiting tampering with smoke detectors located at racetracks and authorized training facilities. The regulation authorizes fines for those who tamper with the safety devices and also for trainers whose employees violate the regulation.·
The Board approved for 45-day public notice a proposed regulatory amendment to update the CHRB Penalty Categories Listing by Classification by adding and/or reclassifying specified drug substances.
The Board authorized the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club to distribute $149,232 in race day charity proceeds to 16 beneficiaries. More than 90 percent of this money will be distributed to charities related to horse racing.
The audio of the entire Board meeting is available on the CHRB Website (www.chrb.ca.gov) under the Webcast link.
(With files from CHRB)