Former Hollywood Park president Rick Baedeker has been unanimously selected as the executive director of the California Horse Racing Board, commission chairman Chuck Winner announced Jan. 16.
The announcement was made following a brief closed session involving the commission at the start of the regular monthly meeting at Santa Anita Park.
Winner, chairing the CHRB for the first time after replacing David Israel at the helm of the seven-member commission, said Baedeker's appointment becomes official "following his successful completion of the state's hiring process."
Baedeker, who will probably take over his new role prior to the CHRB's next meeting Feb. 21, served as president of Hollywood Park from 1999 to 2005. He resigned at the time to take another position with Stockbridge Real Estate Funds, the parent of Bay Meadows Land Co., which had just completed the purchase of the racetrack in September 2005 for $257.5 million from Churchill Downs Inc.
He was Hollywood's vice president of marketing and public relations from 1992 to 1998.
Since 2011, Baedeker has been working with the CHRB as manager of mini-satellite development for Southern California Off-Track Wagering Inc. He was events coordinator for 2008 and 2009 Breeders' Cup Championships at Santa Anita.
Baedeker replaces Kirk Breed, who died of cancer last August. Jackie Wagner, assistant executive director, has been the acting director.
