Former CHRB Chairman Winner Dies at 81

Chuck Winner, an internationally recognized expert in public affairs, crisis communications, and campaign management, who served on the California Horse Racing Board from 2012 to 2019, five of those years as chairman, died March 24 from natural causes. He was 81.

California Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Winner to the California Horse Racing Board in 2012. Involved in politics since he was 18-years-old, Winner ran Brown's first campaign for governor. He has previously worked on the gubernatorial campaign of Pat Brown, Brown’s father. Pat Brown was elected California’s governor in 1958, serving from 1959-67.

While attending UCLA, Winner worked for the Democratic National Committee. John F. Kennedy received the nomination for president at the 1960 Democratic convention in Los Angeles.

“I drove Kennedy when he was here for the convention,” Winner told BloodHorse in 2016. “After he got nominated, I got a call asking me if I wanted to go to work for Young Citizens for Kennedy.”

As CHRB chairman, Winner guided the CHRB through difficult times, most notably during the winter of 2019 when a rash of equine fatalities at Santa Anita Park attracted worldwide scrutiny. According to the CHRB, he led the push for improved safety measures to protect horses and riders, which resulted in greater equine health and welfare throughout California.

After advising California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office that he would not be seeking reappointment after he completed his second term as a racing commissioner on July 26, 2019, Winner said, "It's been a challenging yet fulfilling seven years. My colleagues and I have faced some challenging and critical issues. I hope that we have made a positive difference."

The composition of the CHRB began shifting in 2019 under Newsom, who sought to replace board members with direct, current ties to the horse racing industry. Winner, who became involved in racing in the late 1980s, owned or partially owned numerous graded stakes winners.

"In my opinion, my friend Chuck Winner in California would be the most respected guy you could talk with to get an honest take on horse racing," David Bienstock, who owned horses in partnership with Winner, told BloodHorse in 2016. "He performs his job running the commission with such diligence. I think the state of California is lucky to have a guy who cares that much."

Winner and Bienstock were partners together on horses such as grade 1 winner Magical Fantasy (also with Paul Mandabach) and graded stakes winners Domestic Dispute, Flamboyant, and Fantastic Spain.

Winner, who became a member of The Jockey Club in the summer of 2019, is survived by his wife, Annie, and four children: Justyn, Ethan, Nicole, and Zach.

Private funeral arrangements are pending.