Turf Paradise Wagering Glitch Probed by CHRB

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The California Horse Racing Board is investigating a communications failure involving a race at Turf Paradise Jan. 26 that allowed wagering to continue at California racetracks and simulcast facilities for five minutes after the start of the race.

Advance deposit wagering on the first race at the Arizona track was not affected, the CHRB said in a statement. There was no live racing in California at the time, but the tracks and other simlucast locations were open to take wagers.

"We have been advised that the $3,896 wagered at California racetracks and simulcast facilities on the first race never was merged with the Turf Paradise pools, so this problem did not affect the integrity of the Turf Paradise pools," the statement said. "All legitimate winning wagers placed prior to the start of the race by persons at California racetracks and simulcast facilities will be paid. The 84 tickets purchased after the start of the race will be refunded."

The CHRB said it will issue a full report when its investigation concludes.

CHRB spokesman Mike Marten said in an email that the race was not declared official in California until about two hours after it was over, preventing anyone holding a winning ticket from cashing.

"During the two hours, those 84 (late) tickets were identified and locked out of the system, so they could not be cashed once the race was declared official," Marten wrote. "All legitimate tickets were able to be cashed after 1:30 (p.m.) or so."

The winner of the race, an optional claiming allowance heat for older fillies and mares, was Frisco Fox. She was part of entry that went off at odds of 1-20 in a field of seven, paying $2.10 across the board. Her entrymate, Trojan Victory, finished second. A $2 exacta with the third-place finisher, Sliven, returned $15.80, and the $1 trifecta with fourth-place finisher Blumin Beauty was worth $23.70.