The California Horse Racing Board will study a potential rule that will provide jockeys with a breeding right to a colt or horse that wins “certain” stakes in California. A potential change is far into the future. At Wednesday’s meeting of the jockey and driver welfare committee in Sacramento, vice chairman Oscar Gonzales and commissioners Damascus Castellanos and Thomas Hudnut requested that racing board staff review the legal and logistical aspects of the proposal. Pending study, the committee is expected to revisit the proposal as early as July. Any implementation would take months, if not longer. According to racing board documents, the stakes races that would be included are undetermined. :: Win big at Santa Anita: Get DRF Past Performances, Picks, Clocker Reports and Betting Strategies.  Gonzales, who spoke strongly in favor of the proposal, acknowledged that legal issues must be addressed, but said the rule would financially benefit riders. “We have to take a look at what more we can look at for riders,” he said. “I do believe issues of breeding rights is worth a hard look.” As an example, Gonzales cited if a stallion is bred to 140 mares in a year that a single breeding season reserved for a jockey “is not too much to ask.” Racing board executive director Scott Chaney said legal issues pertaining to the proposal have been brought to his attention, including that stallions are the property of individuals or syndicates, and whether such a rule would discourage owners from participating in California races. Other issues, such as how the rule would affect a colt or horse that does not stand in California, and the timing of when to award a breeding season, were not discussed. A young stallion may have a higher breeding fee in his early years than later in his career, pending what foals achieve. Conversely, a stallion’s fee can rise through his career. Castellanos and Hudnot both expressed interest in the proposal, but voiced concerns. “We need a legal analysis that this is viable,” said Hudnot, a recent appointee to the board. Castellanos called for greater input from people in several aspects of the sport. “It leaves more questions than answers for me,” he said. “It needs to be something that is a lot more understandable.” All three committee members said the rule could entice riders from other circuits to participate in Southern California racing in a way to boost a jockeys’ roster that lost its leading member earlier this spring when Flavien Prat relocated to New York. “I do like the idea of wrestling with the issue of how to improve the jockey colony here in California,” Hudnot said. “It has changed. I have some reservations about this as a particular mechanism.” During a 50-minute meeting, the committee discussed potential rule changes regarding weight claims for apprentice riders, and minimum weights and allowed overweights for Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred races. :: Want to start playing with a $510 bankroll and have access to free Formulator? Learn more Under a proposal for weight allowances for apprentice jockeys, riders would begin their careers with a seven-pound claim, instead of the current 10, and shift to a five-pound claim after their 10th win. Currently, California riders claim 10 pounds until their fifth win, and seven pounds until their 40th career win, when the allowance claim drops to five pounds for the duration of the apprentice term. The racing board cited the health of jockeys as one of the reasons for the proposed change, saying 10-pound allowances are difficult for some riders to physically achieve since their riding weights would be in the low 110s. The committee cited an American Racing Commissioners International model rule as a guide, but said some modifications would be made for a California rule. A proposed rule is months from being implemented, pending final language, a discussion and vote by the full racing board, a public comment period, a second discussion and vote by the racing board, and legal review by a government agency. The committee also heard a proposal to raise minimum weights assigned to Thoroughbreds to 114 pounds, and to 120 pounds for Quarter Horses. The current Thoroughbred minimum is 112 in most races. In addition, the new rule states that jockeys can post no more than five pounds over an assigned weight compared to the current rule of seven. The proposal is also months away from potentially being implemented, pending the regulatory process.