Unraveling the Consequences of CARF's Decision on California Racing
Impact on Horsemen and Women
During Monday's online CARF meeting, several stakeholders in Northern California voiced their fears. Larry Swartzlander, the CARF executive director, emphasized the importance of racing continuing in Northern California as it is the farm system. He stated that if it shuts down, it will have a domino effect, potentially leading to the end of racing in California in two to three years. However, it's important to note that 1/ST Racing's advocacy for continued racing extended to the fair meets rather than the resumption of Golden State Racing's (GSR) operations.Swartzlander clarified that they want to work in concert with Southern California to make both regions whole. This shows the complexity of the situation and the need for a collaborative approach to ensure the future of racing in California.
The Current Golden State Racing Meet
The current Golden State Racing meet at Pleasanton is set to conclude this Wednesday. The numbers from the meet have fallen far short of the projections made prior to its start. This highlights the financial challenges faced by the racing industry and the need for innovative solutions.Monday's vote has now put 1/ST Racing and Gaming's proposal at the forefront. Their plan involves maintaining a stabling base at Pleasanton and carding more suitable races at Santa Anita, which is a roughly 700-mile round trip. However, the proposal is currently short on specifics, and Swartzlander expects more details to emerge in the next two or three days.
Proposed Changes and Challenges
Golden State Racing previously proposed a near six-month meet running from Dec. 26, 2024 through June 8, 2025. For the first three months, the proposal called for racing largely on Saturdays and Sundays only. Currently, the meet is a three-day affair weekly, Friday through Sunday. According to the now rescinded proposal, the meet at Pleasanton would have returned to its three-day status at the start of April.Despite owner-breeders George Schmitt and John Harris offering to front Golden State Racing a line of credit to help with their financial difficulties, CARF decided to rescind the proposed race-meet. The $2-million offer was bound by legal constraints and couldn't be used to fund any future ventures. This shows the difficulties in securing financial support in the current climate.
The Need for Purses Enhancement
Swartzlander emphasized that racing cannot continue in California without purse enhancements. He pointed out the significant difference in purses between California tracks and those in other states. Churchill Downs runs an allowance race for $120,000, Santa Anita for $58,000, and he runs for $26,000. This highlights the need for increased funding to make California racing competitive.More pointedly, he voiced remorse that Golden State Racing wasn't given more time to find its financial footing. The sudden closure of Golden Gate Fields due to TSG's announcement added to the challenges faced by the industry.
The Joint Statement and Future Outlook
On Monday afternoon, 1/ST Racing, the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), and CARF chairman Jerome Hoban issued a joint statement. The statement emphasized the importance of forging a sustainable future for California racing and ensuring stability for racing and training across the state.It also mentioned that the agreement provides uninterrupted stabling and training at Pleasanton, along with vanning services for Northern California-based horses traveling to and from Santa Anita. Weekly races with preferences and restrictions for Northern-based horses will be carded, along with travel stipends to support horsemen and horsewomen. This shows a commitment to addressing the unique needs of the Northern California constituency.
The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) also issued a statement, viewing this arrangement as temporary and an opportunity for all stakeholders to work together to pursue purse enhancements. They hope that enhanced purses will make California racing second to none and focus on purses, field size, and safety at all tracks in the meantime.