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What's Going On Here: Passion and Optimism

The crash of an Aero Commander 500-B Aug. 11 over Oregon ripped a large hole in the fabric of California's horse community, and no one is confident it can be patched.

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Less is More

By Ray Paulick - It's too late to change anything for 2007, but California racing will be better served by a serious reduction of racing in 2008 and beyond. It's up to the CHRB to convince the industry it's the right thing to do.

Hollywood Park Cuts Purses by 8%

Management at Hollywood Park announced Monday there will be an 8% purse reduction at the Autumn meet that is currently underway.

CHRB Waives Three Rules to Accommodate Breeders' Cup

The California Horse Racing Board on Thursday waived three of its own rules for one day only -- October 25, 2003 -- to accommodate horses, owners, and trainers participating in the Breeders' Cup hosted by the Oak Tree Racing Association at Santa Anita.

Boycott Talk on Back-Burner as California Trainers Discuss Workers' Comp

A group of nearly 50 Southern California-based Thoroughbred trainers met at Hollywood Park Tuesday to discuss the specifics of their new workers' compensation policies, one day after all trainers were required to renew with either the state-run State Fund insurance program or insurance giant American Insurance Group.

Insurers Will Meet With California Industry Representatives

Representatives from two private insurance companies are scheduled to meet Tuesday with California horsemen and racetrack executives on a plan to insure workers against injury liability.

Fairplex at Santa Anita Meet Draws Opposition

The proposed transfer of Los Angeles County Fair racing dates from Fairplex to Santa Anita Park has drawn immediate opposition from another tenant of Santa Anita, the Oak Tree Racing Association, as well as others.

Fairplex Park Dates to be Run at Santa Anita

Fairplex Park and the Los Angeles Turf Club have reached an agreement to move the county fair's annual 17-day end-of- summer meeting to Santa Anita Park beginning this September and have requested a change of venue from the California Horse Racing Board to be heard at its June 6 meeting.

By All Accounts

By Ray Paulick -- Concern for the racing fan and the industry doesn't appear to be driving some of the decisions regarding account wagering in California.

Hollywood Park Meet Off to Good Start

With two weeks of its 31-day autumn meet complete, Hollywood Park reports significant increases in attendance and wagering. Average daily on-track handle of $1,589,326 is up 5.9% through nine racing days, while on-track attendance has increased 8.5% from a year ago.

Hollywood Park Meet Off to Good Start

With two weeks of its 31-day autumn meet complete, Hollywood Park reports significant increases in attendance and wagering. Average daily on-track handle of $1,589,326 is up 5.9% through nine racing days, while on-track attendance has increased 8.5% from a year ago.

California Legislation in Governor's Hands

Major legislation that would authorize account wagering and unionization of backstretch workers cleared the California Assembly Friday on the heels of its passage in the Senate. It awaits the signature of Gov. Gray Davis.

Revised California Bill Going Through Legislature

More than a year after California Gov. Gray Davis vetoed a telephone account wagering bill, the revised legislation is running its course again through the state legislature.

Trainers Organization Issues Warning on California Labor Legislation

Calling a backstretch unionization bill filed in the state Assembly a "very real threat to the viability of California's entire Thoroughbred racing industry," the California Thoroughbred Trainers organization is urging its members to actively oppose AB 856 as it works its way through the legislative process this year.

Lights Out For Hollywood Park's Friday Night Racing

Hollywood Park plans to move its Friday night racing to the afternoons to cope with the state's ongoing power crisis. Post time for the first Friday night, April 20, will start at its traditional 7:15 p.m. But the post time for the remaining 12 Fridays during the track's spring meet will begin at 3:30 p.m.

California Board Discusses Horse Shortage

With Northern California-based horses being lured to other racing jurisdictions offering higher purses and increased turf racing during the summer, members of the California Horse Racing Board asked racing leaders Friday to outline their efforts to stem the exodus and prevent fields from shrinking to disastrous levels.

California Considers Stiffer Claiming Rules

Santa Anita Park racing secretary Mike Harlow has noticed a trend for several years, and it doesn't bode well for California's Thoroughbred industry. Harlow said California horses are being claimed by out-of-state trainers who have them shipped elsewhere when a meet concludes. As a solution to the problem, Harlow and other racing secretaries have asked the California Horse Racing Board to amend a rule so that any claimed

Magna Continues With Plans For New California Track

Before heading to New Orleans to accept his four Eclipse Awards, Frank Stronach paid another visit to Dixon, Calif., a possible location for the new home of Bay Meadows.
Last week, Stronach requested a meeting with new Dixon Mayor Mary Ann Courville and Vice Mayor Gil Vega to pitch his dream track again. "It was a very good meeting, productive and friendly," said Dixon city manager Warren Salmons.  "They rolled out a plan for us to look at . They wanted to let us know that they're still seriously interested."

Housing Inspections Now Part of Licensing Process in California

California tracks will have their backstretch housing inspected if they want a license to conduct a horse racing meeting from the California Horse Racing Board. The state's racing board is nearing completion of an amendment to its license application that would require tracks to pass the inspection before the meet is approved. The new regulation is primarily due to a sweep last summer by state inspectors who found backstretch workers often live in substandard conditions.

California Board Increases Jockeys' Mount Fees

The California Horse Racing Board approved a regulatory amendment Thursday increasing by $5 the minimum fee paid to jockeys on mounts that finish worse than third in a race, as requested by the Jockeys' Guild and supported by the horse-racing industry. The amendment also changes the timetable for when the fee is considered earned. Previously the fee was earned when the mount set foot on the racetrack to begin the parade to post. That meant that if a horse was injured in the saddling paddock and had to be scratched from the race, the rider did not earn a fee. Now jockeys will be entitled to the fee when they weigh out for the race with the clerk of scales before they go to the saddling paddock.

California Track Shuffles Schedule Due to Energy Shortage

California Horse Racing Board chairman Robert Tourtelot on Thursday authorized the Los Alamitos Quarter Horse Racing Association to conduct its Friday racing program in the afternoon, beginning with a 12:35 p.m. post. The change, along with permitting the association to race Saturday and Sunday afternoons if necessary, is in the interest of conserving electrical energy during the current shortage, according to a statement from the CHRB.

Southern California Tracks Adopt Stall Allocation Policy

Southern California horsemen will be allocated stalls based on a list of criteria that includes performance during individual meets and year-round totals, according to an agreement reached between officials of the region's three major tracks.

Santa Anita Braces For Possible Power Outage

Santa Anita officials said racing wouldn't stop, although the tote boards would be shut down, if the track faced a power outage. The wagering information, which is controlled by computers, wouldn't be lost. Furer said there are about 22 tote machines that could be up and running during a blackout. Escalators and elevators would be immediately turned off before the blackout to ensure no one gets hurt or trapped. The track is equipped with an emergency generator that would provide lighting.

Examining the Enigmatic Frank Stronach

Magna Entertainment chairman and interim president Frank Stronach is taking racing by storm, and nowhere is his presence more visible than in California. His company owns Santa Anita Park and both of the major tracks in Northern California. He is proposing a new, state-of-the-art track on 225 acres in Dixon, Calif. to replace Bay Meadows. According to the Sacramento Bee, Stronach's California moves and attempt to influence the country's racing industry have drawn both praise and criticism.

Del Mar Gives $10-Million to State of California

For the second year in a row, the State of California realized a payment of $10 million for the summer race meet conducted by Del Mar Thoroughbred Club on the fairgrounds at Del Mar. In addition to an exact rent payment of $7,170,000 tendered by DMTC for the 2000 racing season, the 43-day session generated net income of $2.8 million in food and beverage sales to push revenues to $10 million, equaling the record mark established in 1999.

California Trainers Issue Report on Integrity, Image

In a report sent to more than 40 members of the industry, the California Thoroughbred Trainers has made 11 recommendations on integrity in racing. Among them are use of surveillance cameras, a five-hour rule, and administration of Lasix by state veterinarians only.

California Racetrack Bill Gets Final Passage

Legislation that would legalize telephone account wagering and reform backstretch conditions at California racetracks received final passage Thursday and has been sent to the governor for his signature.

Unionization Bill Opposed in California

Legislation that could lead to unionization of backstretch workers in California is being opposed by a unified group of leaders within the state's horse racing industry, according to the Los Angeles Times.