CHRB, Feinstein discuss federal oversight legislation in call

ARCADIA, Calif. – California Senator Dianne Feinstein and members of her staff held a conference call with California Horse Racing Board chairman Chuck Winner and executive director Rick Baedeker on Friday to discuss a variety of subjects related to horse safety issues that have affected the sport in California in recent months.

According to Winner, who declined to discuss specifics of the call, the conversation included topics such as federal oversight legislation for horse racing and measures being taken to curtail a series of equine fatalities at Santa Anita this year.

On Monday, Feinstein issued a statement, calling for a suspension of racing in reaction to the equine fatalities. Feinstein issued a similar statement in early April.

Winner said the statement was not part of Friday’s discussion.

“It was a positive call in the sense that it was productive, in my view, with the senator and her staff,” Winner said. “We’ll continue to work with them.

“Most of the conversation was about federal legislation. We had a positive conversation. She’s very insightful and asked a lot of good questions.

“She cares very much about California and horses. She wants it to be as safe as possible, as do we.”

Santa Anita suspended racing for 13 days in March to inspect and renovate the main track after a series of equine fatalities in late February and early March. Through March, the track implemented restrictions on what horses were allowed to train or race before racing resumed on March 29. The restrictions included lower dosages of the anti-bleeding medication Lasix, a suspension of authorized thresholds on legal therapeutic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and an increase in out-of-competition testing.

There were no fatalities in racing or training from April 1 to May 16, but there were three fatalities – one in training and two in racing – from May 17 to May 26.

Senators Tom Udall of New Mexico and Ron Wyden of Oregon have proposed legislation that would appoint the United States Anti-Doping Agency to oversee racing’s medication and drug-testing policies. Legislation has been introduced in Congress that would create an oversight board consisting of participants from racing and the USADA.

Both bills would ban race-day administration of Lasix.

“The purpose of the call from her perspective concerned federal legislation and things we’re doing to improve standards in California,” Winner said. “She was asking us for our view on specific issues dealing with federal legislation.

“She’s interested in what we’re doing and what the Stronach Group and others are doing, too. I’m delighted with her interest and concern for California and for California racing.”

The Stronach Group is the parent company of Santa Anita.

Winner, 78, has been a member of the racing board since 2012 and chairman since 2013. His current four-year term ends in late July. On Friday, Winner said it was unclear whether he would continue on the board beyond this summer and stressed that he has not been in contact with Gov. Gavin Newsom about another appointment.

“There are people that would like to me continue, but it’s a lot of work,” he said. “Maybe it’s time for new blood and time for me ride into the sunset.

“We’ll see. No one has appointed me.”

Winner, who has a decades-long involvement in campaign consultancy, could serve on the racing board for an additional 60 days, if Newsom does not immediately nominate a replacement.

The racing board’s next meeting will be held on June 20 at the Alameda County fair grounds in Pleasanton, Calif. The meeting was scheduled for Santa Anita until the racing board announced a change on Friday afternoon.