Harris to join TOC board of directors

John Harris, former chairman of the California Horse Racing Board and one of the most prominent owner-breeders on the West Coast, has joined the board of directors of the Thoroughbred Owners of California along with owner-breeder Ty Green and trainer Andy Mathis.

The TOC announced the appointments on Wednesday after discussions by current board members, according to TOC president and chief executive officer Bill Nader. Harris, Green, and Mathis will need to run for re-election later this year, Nader said.

They join the seven current members of the board, days after three members resigned after expressing concern over the organization’s direction regarding the future of Northern California racing.

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Harris, of Coalinga; Green, of San Luis Obispo; and Mathis, who has a stable based at Golden Gate Fields, will comprise the three Northern California members of the board.

They replace Lindsay LaRoche, Ed Moger, Jr., and Johnny Taboada, who resigned on Jan. 12 in protest of the TOC’s position to not a pursue a replacement venue for Golden Gate Fields in Northern California, which is scheduled to close in June. The Northern California racing schedule will have a limited number of racing dates unless a fair venue adds dates to compensate for the closure of Golden Gate Fields.

The TOC, as well as tracks in Southern California, have called for a consolidation of racing in the state to the south for most of the year, while leaving in place the Northern California fair circuit. The issue is scheduled to be discussed at Thursday’s California Horse Racing Board meeting in Sacramento.

Harris owns Harris Farms in Coalinga, which for decades has been one of the state’s most prominent breeding farms.

Harris and Green are members of the board of directors of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association. Green races as SLO Racing.

Mathis is one of the leading trainers in Northern California.

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