Minami resigns from CHRB

Roy Minami, who had been assistant executive director of the California Horse Racing Board since 1991, resigned from that position on June 21.

Minami was not available for comment. The racing board's chairman, Richard Shapiro, declined to elaborate on Minami's departure Wednesday. "It's a personnel issue and I can't" discuss it, Shapiro said.

Minami, who joined the racing board in 1989 as an administrative manager, had been highly visible in recent years on matters such as backstretch security and drug testing.

Minami served as executive director of the board last year following the resignation of the former executive director, Roy Wood. He had also served as interim director in 1993.

Last year, Minami was a finalist for the executive director position, a job that went to former steward Ingrid Fermin.