California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 469 into law Wednesday, authorizing the California Horse Racing Board to take immediate action on race meet licenses if horse or rider safety is determined to be at risk. The bill had been unanimously approved by the state's legislature Monday.
“Business as usual has resulted in too many horse deaths,” said Newsom. “I applaud the legislature for taking action to expand the authority of the CHRB to cancel or move race meets when animal and human safety are at risk. This problem demands deeper partnership between the CHRB and track officials. I call on racetracks around the state to hold themselves to the higher screening standards recently adopted at Santa Anita. This model can save horses' lives.”
Previously, short of an allegation of an actual rule violation, the CHRB was limited in its ability to take action against a licensee to limit, place conditions on or suspend a racing license. The CHRB had requested that Santa Anita suspend the final seven days of the meeting earlier this month, but officials of the track denied the request.
Also Wednesday, Newsom announced the appointment of Gregory Ferraro to the CHRB. Ferraro, 73, of San Francisco, was the director of the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine Center for Equine Health from 1997 to 2014 and was owner and chief executive officer of Gregory L. Ferraro DVM, LLC from 1972 to 1997.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
