The California Horse Racing Board elected current Vice Chairman Roger Licht as its chairman for 2003.

Licht, who will succeed Alan Landsburg in the chairman's post, has been a member of the board since appointed by Governor Gray Davis on February 23, 2001. He will serve his term as chairman for a year, and his term as board member until July 26, 2004.

Licht, 48, is a partner in the Beverly Hills law firm Licht & Licht. Before joining the CHRB, Licht represented horsemen in legal matters, and he has owned horses.

Replacing Licht as vice chairman is John Harris, chairman of Harris Farms near Coalinga, California. Harris has owned horses for 44 years, and he joined the CHRB on November 9, 2000. He is a former president of the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

Upon completion of his final meeting as chairman, Landsburg told California racing, "I'm leaving you in good hands."