Jamgotchian files complaint

Racehorse owner James Jamgotchian has filed a complaint with the California Horse Racing Board alleging that former board chairman Richard Shapiro vandalized his car at Hollywood Park, according to the board.

The incident is under investigation by the local police, according to Lt. Michael McBride with the Inglewood Police Department.

According to the complaint, Shapiro ran a key along the body of Jamgotchian's car after an April 24 racing board meeting at the Inglewood racetrack. Shapiro resigned from the board last year, and he frequently sparred with Jamgotchian during his four-year tenure on the board.

Kirk Breed, the chairman of the racing board, said on Tuesday that the board is "waiting for the investigation to be completed by the Inglewood Police Department before we can obtain any of the evidence or documents necessary for us to pursue this investigation."

Shapiro declined to comment on Tuesday and referred questions to his attorney, Phil Israels, who did not immediately return a phone call.

The complaint was first reported by the Los Angeles Times. Jamgotchian forwarded a link to the story to hundreds of journalists and racing officials on Tuesday.