Calif. approves $1.45 million in HISA funding through handle fees
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The California Horse Racing Board approved an agreement between the state’s industry stakeholders to provide funding for federal oversight by the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, which is set to take effect July 1.
California’s share of HISA's $14.3 million operating budget was assessed to be $1,451,256 for 2022, based on a formula for projected starts in the state and “projected purse starts.” To provide funding, the racing associations that operate the state’s Thoroughbred racetracks have agreed with the Thoroughbred Owners of California to redirect a portion of monies they receive from in-state advance deposit wagering fees.
The Los Angeles Turf Club, which operates Santa Anita, will pay $636,732 toward HISA’s operating costs through a 0.64 percent deduction from advance-deposit wagers. The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club will pay $348,173 through a 0.20 percent deduction and the Pacific Racing Association, which operates Golden Gate, will be assessed $297,867 through a 0.44 percent deduction.
Those monies from advance-deposit wagering fees otherwise would go toward purses and track commissions in the state. The CHRB itself is funded through a similar mechanism.
Also to comply with HISA, the board approved a “concussion management protocol” for all jockeys who compete in the state. It requires a minimum assessment before a jockey can return to ride and requires that stewards be notified when a jockey is not permitted to ride.
Baseline concussion assessments for jockeys already have been completed at Golden Gate Fields and are taking place this week at Santa Anita.
In his executive director’s report, CHRB’s Scott Chaney noted at the end of Thursday’s meeting that “California is well positioned for the July 1 effective date, but undoubtedly there will be some growing pains associated with the new federal oversight.”
Also on Thursday, the CHRB approved Del Mar’s license to operate its summer meet, which opens July 22, and tweaked the state's rules for weight carried by jockeys.
On the latter item, the minimum weight for jockeys in all overnight races was increased to 114 pounds from 112. For handicaps and stakes races, the minimum weight to be carried was raised two pounds to 105. Additionally, the maximum allowable overweight in all races was lowered to five pounds from seven.
As for Del Mar, vice president of racing David Jerkens told the board that purses this summer will be up 15 percent from a year ago to a record for California. Del Mar will host 31 days of racing, with the meet ending on Sept. 13.
Last summer, Del Mar averaged a robust 8.5 starters per race, which helped attract an average daily handle of $18.3 million, a record for the track. Jerkens noted that Del Mar’s “ship-and-win program”, which is designed as an incentive to attract horses from outside of California, has led to “more than a dozen” out-of-state horsemen to apply for stall space for the meet.
California’s share of HISA's $14.3 million operating budget was assessed to be $1,451,256 for 2022, based on a formula for projected starts in the state and “projected purse starts.” To provide funding, the racing associations that operate the state’s Thoroughbred racetracks have agreed with the Thoroughbred Owners of California to redirect a portion of monies they receive from in-state advance deposit wagering fees.
The Los Angeles Turf Club, which operates Santa Anita, will pay $636,732 toward HISA’s operating costs through a 0.64 percent deduction from advance-deposit wagers. The Del Mar Thoroughbred Club will pay $348,173 through a 0.20 percent deduction and the Pacific Racing Association, which operates Golden Gate, will be assessed $297,867 through a 0.44 percent deduction.
Those monies from advance-deposit wagering fees otherwise would go toward purses and track commissions in the state. The CHRB itself is funded through a similar mechanism.
Also to comply with HISA, the board approved a “concussion management protocol” for all jockeys who compete in the state. It requires a minimum assessment before a jockey can return to ride and requires that stewards be notified when a jockey is not permitted to ride.
Baseline concussion assessments for jockeys already have been completed at Golden Gate Fields and are taking place this week at Santa Anita.
In his executive director’s report, CHRB’s Scott Chaney noted at the end of Thursday’s meeting that “California is well positioned for the July 1 effective date, but undoubtedly there will be some growing pains associated with the new federal oversight.”
Also on Thursday, the CHRB approved Del Mar’s license to operate its summer meet, which opens July 22, and tweaked the state's rules for weight carried by jockeys.
On the latter item, the minimum weight for jockeys in all overnight races was increased to 114 pounds from 112. For handicaps and stakes races, the minimum weight to be carried was raised two pounds to 105. Additionally, the maximum allowable overweight in all races was lowered to five pounds from seven.
As for Del Mar, vice president of racing David Jerkens told the board that purses this summer will be up 15 percent from a year ago to a record for California. Del Mar will host 31 days of racing, with the meet ending on Sept. 13.
Last summer, Del Mar averaged a robust 8.5 starters per race, which helped attract an average daily handle of $18.3 million, a record for the track. Jerkens noted that Del Mar’s “ship-and-win program”, which is designed as an incentive to attract horses from outside of California, has led to “more than a dozen” out-of-state horsemen to apply for stall space for the meet.
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