Dr. Greg Ferraro elected as CHRB chair

DEL MAR, Calif. – Greg Ferraro, a former racetrack practicing veterinarian who more recently headed the veterinary teaching hospital at University of California-Davis, was elected chairman of the California Horse Racing Board on Thursday.

In brief introductory remarks as chairman, Ferraro said his initial goal as chairman will be to enact policies to eliminate the use of medications in horses. Ferraro assumes the role of chairman in a year in which California racing has undergone international scrutiny as a result of equine fatalities in racing and training.

“This board is a new board and has a mandate from the governor’s office and that is the health and safety of the horses,” Ferraro said. “I intend to carry out that mandate.

“We have made several important new regulations and changes. There are many more to come. The ones that are destined to come are going to be more difficult than the ones we’ve passed.

“The days of permissive medication are over. We will gradually eliminate medications and keep them from racing days and training. We expect opposition, but we intend to carry them out in the best interest of horses and jockeys.”

Ferraro replaces chairman Chuck Winner, whose term on the board expired during the summer.

Earlier this year, while Winner was chairman of the racing board, Santa Anita implemented restrictions on what horses were allowed to train or race, including lower dosages of the anti-bleeder medication Lasix, a suspension of authorized thresholds on legal therapeutic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and an increase in out-of competition testing.

In June, at the insistence of California Gov. Gavin Newsom, tracks implemented a five-person panel of veterinarians and stewards to review the racing, training and medication records of all horses entered to race. The panel has the right to deny an entry.

Also at Thursday’s meeting, Oscar Gonzales, who joined the racing board in September, was named vice-chairman. Gonzales is an executive with a financial company, and has been a frequent visitor to Southern California tracks in recent weeks.