Former California Horse Racing Board chairman Richard Shapiro, who pled "no contest" Aug. 18 to a misdemeanor charge of vandalism for "keying" the car of racehorse owner Jerry Jamgotchian, issued a written apology Aug. 31.

Shapiro, 56, was sentenced to three years of informal probation and ordered to pay restitution of $6,800 to Jamgotchian to cover the damage to the owner’s 2008 Jaguar, which occurred in the Hollywood Park parking lot during a CHRB meeting April 24. Jamgotchian, a frequent critic of Shapiro’s CHRB actions, is preparing a Civil Court case against Shapiro.

Richard Shapiro Apology Letter (PDF)