Bill Giving CHRB More Authority Over Meets Approved

Earlier this month the California Horse Racing Board asked the owner of Santa Anita Park to suspend racing for the remaining days of the meet that was marred by equine breakdowns but the track, owned by The Stronach Group, refused that request.

After California lawmakers unanimously approved legislation June 24 that broadens the regulator's powers to immediately take action against track license holders, the CHRB will soon no longer need to request a shutdown.

The legislation, for which Gov. Gavin Newsom already has voiced his support and is expected to sign, would allow the CHRB to immediately suspend a license to conduct a race meeting if needed to protect equine health and welfare. The Senate version of the bill passed 40-0 and the Assembly passed its version 78-0, with one non-voter.

Currently the CHRB can take such action, but it is required to give notice of a public meeting 10 days in advance, effectively delaying the timing. The newly approved legislation would allow the CHRB to immediately call an emergency meeting and take action—if it determines the health and safety of horses or riders is at risk—and then review the suspension of the license within 10 calendar days.

The legislation also gives the CHRB powers to "change, limit, restrict, or reallocate racing weeks, days, or dates" that were previously allocated.

Analysis of the bill prepared for the Senate notes the events from earlier this month when the CHRB wished to discontinue racing.

"After two horses died related to racing or morning training activities over a three-day period (June 6-8), which raised the total to 29 fatalities (at the meet), the CHRB asked Santa Anita on June 8 to suspend racing for the rest of the season, or the last seven days of the race meet," the analysis said. "Santa Anita denied the request."

It went on to say: "As stated above, under current state law, the CHRB doesn't have the authority to suspend a race meet or remove race dates from a current race meet without the approval of the race track operator or without holding a public meeting with 10 days public notice.

In a press release, The Stronach Group, which owns the track, claimed since the reforms passed, there has been a 50% decrease in "catastrophic" race-day injuries and an 84% decrease during training sessions."

The bill increasing the CHRB's powers also had the support of United States Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat.

When the meet concluded June 23, all attention at Santa Anita and beyond had shifted to equine safety following the death of 30 horses during racing or training at the prestigious meeting that started Dec. 26.

Beyond the safety problems at Santa Anita, horsemen and workers there faced hardships during missed racing dates as Santa Anita opted to close for nearly all of March to address the safety concerns. Compared with last year, this year's meet saw 20 fewer race days and paid purses declined 8.7% to $45,278,381—down more than $4 million. Field size declined from 7.85 starters to 7.36. Santa Anita had not released handle numbers as of early June 25.

The analysis also summarized some of the actions of the CHRB: "On June 12, 2019 the CHRB announced new safety measures that will grant independent veterinarians the power to prevent horses from racing if they seem unfit in the pre-race process. The review procedures (were) in place for the final six racing days at Santa Anita.

"The new safety measures were agreed to by the owners of Santa Anita," the analysis reads. "Under the enhanced veterinarian review task force, nine horses were removed from races prior to the start over the racing weekend of June 16-18. 

"The new measures were announced a day after Gov. Newsom asked the CHRB to ensure that no horse was allowed to race until it was independently examined for fitness by a veterinarian. It has been reported that nearly 2,000 horses are stabled at the track and hundreds of employees also live and work on the backside."

The analysis noted that no single reason has been determined for the rash of breakdowns.

"To date, there does not appear to be a singular answer or consensus as to the cause of the clustering of horse fatalities at Santa Anita. The CHRB noted at a recent regular meeting that four CHRB staff are working full time in cooperation with the (Los Angeles District Attorney) on the investigation," the analysis reads. "It is unclear when that investigation may conclude. However, the CHRB notes that over the preceding decade, horse racing fatalities have been trending lower.

"The CHRB Annual Report 2017-2018 states that horse 'fatalities in California horse racing have been reduced by nearly 60% over the last 13 years, with much of that decrease in the last year alone.'"