Former steward gets $400K in discrimination case

Former California steward Pam Berg has received $400,000 through an out-of-court settlement with the California Horse Racing Board regarding an age and gender discrimination lawsuit.

The racing board agreed to settle the lawsuit after an executive session following its June 22 meeting at Hollywood Park.

Berg was a steward and associate steward at Golden Gate Fields and the now-defunct Bay Meadows, and on the Northern California fair circuit from 1988 to 2006. She later worked as a steward at the Cal-Expo harness meeting in Sacramento.

In a lawsuit filed in Sacramento County Superior Court, Berg argued that the racing board denied her the opportunity to work as a steward on the Thoroughbred circuit based on gender and age, preferring male candidates. Berg is 66.

Outside of being a racing official, Berg is well-known as the operator of Glen Ellen Vocational Academy, a facility in Sonoma County for retired racehorses.