Via TD Thornton
A dispute began in October over whether Ferndale (Humboldt County Fair) must once again host a second race in two weeks at the end of August in the face of overlapping competition from the granted Golden Gate Fields (GGF). The commercial license may now extend to Even Step.
There are many reasons for the deadlock. But the two main key takeaways that emerged at the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) on Thursday were:
1) Two racetracks, plus stakeholders from the California Racing Fair Administration (CARF), California Thoroughbred Owners (TOC) and California Thoroughbred Coach (CTT), were unable to came up with an agreed compromise with the CHRB after three months to find one.
2) The CHRB itself was unable to vote on one resolution or the other, as two commissioners were absent from the regular monthly meeting.
The single motion put to the vote – giving Ferndale an entire two-week non-overlapping in exchange for financial considerations for the GGF to be determined later – resulted in three votes in favor and two votes against.
But the results of the vote do not count because the CHRB cannot pass any bill unless at least four commissioners vote with the majority.
“It looks like the Riders will have an overdue break if we can’t fix this,” said Oscar Gonzales, CHRB vice president, disappointed after seeing the proposal. which he proposed failed.
Because the CHRB canceled the February meeting (and prevented the unlikely event of calling an “emergency” meeting in this case), the earliest vote for the overlapping or non-duplicating week could be rescheduled. took place at the meeting on March 16.
Back in October, the CHRB voted on the 2023 race day calendar for NorCal, largely reflecting the framework from the 2022 schedule.
The only exception is the board of directors delay decision on the one-week overlap of Ferndale versus GGF. The two license applicants subsequently requested more time to reach a compromise so that the commissioners did not have to impose a compromise, but their negotiations were ultimately fruitless.
On the Ferndale side, testimony at CHRB meetings in recent months (and again on January 19) focused on keeping the race going in small communities; maintaining the tradition of the fairs; Ferndale has stated that a second week of non-overlapping races is required for any races there to be possible; Ferndale regularly attracts GGF attendance and Ferndale’s purported role in attracting new fans and helping lower-tier pony outfits survive.
In support of hosting the GGF race in the second week of the Ferndale meet, supporters cited GGF’s supposed greater importance as a mainstay of NorCal racing, its ability to provide offer grass races and additional funds will flow into the pocket year round. , the barn higher level.
The Trustees also noted about Recent upheaval and legal woes regarding Ferndale. Back on November 15, police arrested the fair’s accountant on charges of embezzlement, and the fair’s general manager and three longtime directors also recently resigned.
Jim Morgan, legal counsel for the Humboldt County Fair, told the CHRB on Thursday that a new GM could be in place by the end of the month.
“We are not against Golden Gate,” Morgan told the commissioners while begging his case not to overlap and the two-week run. But, Morgan added, “they ran in.” [10] of 12 months in the calendar year. So a week to the Golden Gate doesn’t mean a week to Humboldt…
“We’ve been billed as a minor league venue and there’s some truth to that,” Morgan said. “But we are also a gateway location” drawing new fans, horse and horse owners into California’s overall racing ecosystem.
Larry Swartzlander, the chief executive of CARF, said his organization tried to broker a deal that would allow Ferndale to operate alone for two weeks in exchange for paying the GGF.
“The goal of the CARF, if we have a second week that doesn’t overlap, [is] We obviously want to raise money in Humboldt,” said Swartzlander. “We want to make the race better. And we all know that Humboldt will never have the same level of racing as Golden Gate or Pleasanton…
“CARF’s position is to deliver [$200,000 in purses] to the Golden Gate,” said Swartzlander. “Golden Gate’s objection is that they want to have [bet] Commission. CARF’s position is if we waive the commission [the deal] won’t work.”
“I don’t see any light at the end of the tunnel for us to come to a suitable agreement,” David Duggan, general manager and vice president of GGF, told CHRB.
When CHRB president Gregory Ferraro, DVM, asked how losing that race week would cost GGF, Duggan replied: “I don’t think, sir president, it would definitely be north of 250,000 dollars [in commissions].”
Bill Nader, president and chief executive officer of TOC, said the value of GGF’s turf “should not be underestimated” during the summer months.
“I think it’s important for Golden Gate’s viability, as well as for the purse structure, that we do a two-week overlap, so we support the Golden Gate Fields position,” said Nader. speak.
“We respect Ferndale as an additional player in the overall landscape of northern California races. But in the lead role, maintain the overlap and bring out the Golden Gate [that week is] “It’s important for the horse population in California, for the ability to run on grass, and for horse racing advocates as fans,” Nader said.
Nader continued: “The half-mile run is fun in a short amount of time. “But that’s not a brand we’d recommend for the California race, especially at that time of year.”
Alan Balch, chief executive officer of CTT, said he agreed with the TOC’s position, adding that “more than anywhere else in the state, [NorCal] Instructors are also owners. And we look at [being able to race at GGF] like maximizing racing opportunities.
Commissioner Wendy Mitchell brought up the question of serving a constituency.
“Ferndale is a remote location, north of California [in which] there’s a community of interest,” says Mitchell. “This is a fair [that] we need to support, because otherwise we will leave part of our population in the wilderness…. And I think we need to let them know the date so that they [help grow the overall racing product statewide].”
President Ferraro offered an opposing view.
“The thing is, Wendy, our constituency is really the horsemen of California. And we’re talking about taking hundreds of thousands of dollars out of their own pocket to benefit a local fair,” Ferraro said. “That balance has to be there. Our primary responsibility is to ensure the health and viability of races in California, so that would worry me.”
Mitchell respectfully disagreed: “I don’t think it’s just the cavalry that are our constituency. I think we have many stakeholders and constituencies here.”
The board revolves around the idea of giving the two sides more time to find a compromise. But Morgan claims that the expo board wants answers immediately.
Morgan explained that Ferndale had to bring in a new GM and it would be difficult to hire someone of the caliber without being able to tell them what racing-related budgets and revenues for 2023 would look like. He also added that the riders in the Pacific Northwest have now begun planning where they will race in the summer, and further delays and uncertainty will only harm the effort. recruited Ferndale’s last name.
Gonzales offered Ferndale two unconventional weeks, with the understanding that Ferndale would have to “close the gap” financially with the GGF before the March CHRB meeting.
But that movement just created another verbal spiral of exactly the value of such a monetary compromise. It has also been suggested that the current conflicting offers of purse versus commission amount to a sort of “apple-to-orange” comparison that benefits no one.
When the petition was put to a vote, commissioners Gonzales, Mitchell and Brenda Washington Davis voted in favor of giving Ferndale a fortnight without competition.
Commissioners Ferraro and Thomas Hudnut voted no.
Commissioners Dennis Alfieri and Damascus Castellanos were not present.
