Steve Schwartz, a prominent trial lawyer specializing in equine veterinary and medical issues, has been named president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California effective Nov. 15. Schwartz replaces Drew Couto, who left the position earlier this year.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
After failing to attract a qualified bid for Santa Anita Park this summer, bankrupt Magna Entertainment Corp. is prepared to try it again early next year. Meanwhile, a committee of horse owners from the Thoroughbred Owners of California is continuing to negotiate the purchase of the picturesque 303-acre racetrack, site of the 2009 Breeders' Cup.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Drew Couto, who helped form the Thoroughbred Owners of California in 1993 and served for the past five years as president, has decided to step down.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
The Thoroughbred Owners of California is among the interested bidders in Santa Anita Park, an organization official confirmed.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
Advance deposit wagering provider TVG did not accept bets on Hollywood Park races April 22 as the Inglewood track opened its 65-day spring/summer meet.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Rebates to wagering customers have become so widespread that the California Horse Racing Board is preparing to rescind its rule against the practice.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Jerry and Ann Moss were named 2008 Owners of the Year and their undefeated filly Zenyatta won Horse of the Year honors from the Thoroughbred Owners of California.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Richard Shapiro, former chairman of the California Horse Racing Board, has been hired as a consultant by the newly-formed California Horse Racing Alliance. Craig Fravel, the alliance's president and the executive vice-president of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, confirmed the hiring of Shapiro shortly after the group's formation in recent weeks.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Arnold Zetcher has been appointed to the board of directors of the Thoroughbred Owners of California.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
An impasse in California over fee rates for interstate advance deposit wagering that has had a negative impact on Hollywood Park's fall meet ended Nov. 21 with the announcement that one-year deals with the four licensed providers in the state have been reached.
Friday, November 21, 2008
In a high-stakes "game of chicken," the California Horse Racing Board pushed account wagering a little closer to the edge Nov. 18 when it declined to renew the licenses of the state's four Internet and telephone bet companies.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Out-of-state account wagering bettors remained locked out of Hollywood Park races as a contract dispute between the Thoroughbred Owners of California and the four advance deposit wagering companies showed no sign of resolution Oct. 30, the second day of the fall meet.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
A stalemate between California horsemen and advance deposit wagering companies kept Hollywood Park's out-of-state signal unavailable on opening day of the track's fall season Oct. 29.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
California horsemen and Hollywood Park reached a tentative agreement Oct. 10 that allows the track to operate its 40-day autumn race meet, but a stalemate over host fees to be paid by account wagering companies for interstate bets remains unresolved.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Prominent Thoroughbred Owner Mace Siegel, vice president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California, has given $100,000 to support the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Group and its efforts to protect live horse racing.
Friday, September 26, 2008
A California rule that gives owners the option of protecting a horse that has been out of action for at least 180 days from being claimed away goes into effect on Sept. 20.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Look in the winner's circle after any offspring of Unusual Heat wins a race and you'll likely see a petite, brown-haired woman hugging the jockey, high-fiving the trainer, or congratulating the owner.
Monday, August 18, 2008
The elimination of exclusive account deposit wagering contracts and meeting the challenges of racetrack closures were among the subjects addressed at the Thoroughbred Owners of California's annual membership meeting Aug. 16 at Del Mar.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
A fan-friendly experiment to share racetracks among California's advance deposit wagering companies has ended with the start of the Del Mar meet July 16.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Five incumbents and one new board member have been elected directors o the Thoroughbred Owners of California.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
The Thoroughbred Owners of California board of directors has unanimously endorsed the negotiating model created by the Thoroughbred Horsemen's Group, and has authorized the THG to represent the TOC in future simulcast negotiations, including in advance deposit wagering negotiations.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
As the popularity of advance deposit wagering increases, states need to take action to protect their horseracing industry, the president of the Thoroughbred Owners of California told a group of legislators meeting June 13 in Northern California.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Six years after a state law was passed extending full rights to horse-owning trainers and their spouses in the Thoroughbred Owners of California, the organization is scrambling to rectify an apparent exclusion sent out as part of the current board of directors election ballot.
Friday, May 30, 2008
John Harris has been selected to receive the Ed Friendly Industry Service Award from the Thoroughbred Owners of California at a ceremony to be held March 29 at Santa Anita Park.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Warren Williamson was voted owner of the year, and his racemare Nashoba's Key was chosen horse of the year, in the Thoroughbred of California's annual owner awards selection.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Bay Meadows Racing Association will conduct a new three-race event in March called the Triple Play Race Series, which consists of a $10,000 claiming race followed by two starter races.
Friday, March 07, 2008
At a time when California is facing a state budget deficit approaching $15 billion, horse racing industry officials pleaded their case for special consideration before a legislative committee convened at the State Capitol in Sacramento March 5.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Robert Bone has been appointed to the board of directors of the Thoroughbred Owners of California.
Friday, February 29, 2008
The California Horse Racing Board, meeting in a brief emergency session by teleconference Jan. 8 following Santa Anita's canceled weekend Jan. 5-7, cleared the way for the Los Angeles Turf Club to move some or all of the 2008 winter/spring racing dates to Hollywood Park.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
California took a first step toward helping more horses after their racing years with the final approval of a new fund to support the state's equine retirement facilities.
Friday, December 14, 2007
The Thoroughbred Owners of California and Arkansas Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association have joined the new Thoroughbred Horsemen's Group, launched Dec. 5 to facilitate simulcast activities and improve the economics of the pari-mutuel model.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Advance deposit wagering, which in five years has grown to represent about 13.4 % of total handle through the California pari-mutuel system, was reauthorized by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Oct. 13.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
California fairs offer a realistic option for horse racing's future at a time when two major racetracks in the state are facing redevelopment and other privately held venues are pressured by stockholders for greater revenue returns amid escalating property values.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Legislation limiting the number of commissioners on the California Horse Racing Board who can be licensed to participate in the sport has cleared the state assembly's appropriations committee and is headed for a full vote on the assembly floor.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Preliminary approval of a plan by the Thoroughbred Owners of California to create a charitable fund for retired racehorses was granted by the state horse racing board during its meeting at Del Mar on July 19.
Friday, July 20, 2007
The Thoroughbred Owners of California hosts the 2007 California Racing Medication and Security Summit on July 28, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Surfside Race Place at Del Mar.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
As expansion of gaming for four Southern California casino tribes lurched toward approval in the Legislature June 28, it did so with little interference from the state's racing industry.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Marsha Naify has been elected chairwoman of the Thoroughbred Owners of California board of directors, replacing Alan Landsburg, who has retired from the board.
Monday, May 28, 2007
Marsha Naify is the newly elected chair of the board of directors of the Thoroughbred Owners of California following the retirement of Alan Landsburg, the organization announced May 25.
Friday, May 25, 2007
With State Sen. Leland Yee in attendance at its May 22 meeting in Sacramento, the California Horse Racing Board threw open the possibility that Bay Meadows could resume racing in 2008.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Alan Landsburg, a member of the Thoroughbred Owners of California board of directors for 10 years, is stepping down.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
A bill that would allow California racetracks to retain their license fees to boost purses and breeders' awards successfully passed out of the California State Senate Governmental Organization Committee April 24 on a 7-0 vote.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Beulah Park again is importing signals from two California racetracks, and purses at the Ohio track have been restored to previous levels after an agreement was reached with the Thoroughbred Owners of California.
Friday, March 23, 2007
Wagering on races from Bay Meadows and Santa Anita Park wasn't available anywhere in Ohio March 10 as a dispute between Beulah Park and horsemen lingers.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
California's three major horse racing organizations have endorsed The Shops at Santa Anita, the outdoor, upscale shopping and dining center proposed by Caruso Affiliated at the Arcadia, Calif., track.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
The owner of Beulah Park said a decision by the Thoroughbred Owners of California to pull signals from his Ohio racetrack will only hurt horsemen by triggering a purse cut.
Monday, February 19, 2007
The Thoroughbred Owners of California plans to withhold the state simulcast signal to Beulah Park beginning Feb. 20 following a vote of its board Feb. 15, TOC president Drew Couto said.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Trainer Bob Baffert has been appointed to the board of directors of the Thoroughbred Owners of California.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Thoroughbred Owners of California will host a free seminar, "Ownership 101," on Jan. 20, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Santa Anita Park's Top O' The Stretch Clockers' Corner. Scheduled panelists include owners John Amerman and Madeline Auerbach.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Thoroughbred Owners of California will host an open forum in Club Plaza at Santa Anita on Jan. 6 beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Monday, January 01, 2007
