California Thoroughbred owners will donate a portion of purse money to equine retirement programs under a rule approved by the California Horse Racing Board on December 14.

The board directed the paymaster of purses to deduct 0.3% of the net purse earned at any Thoroughbred racing association or fair to be deposited into the California Retirement Management Account, a charitable trust fund to be established by the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC).

“This is a wonderful idea, of course, and something we are obligated to do. We owe this to the horses,” said CHRB Chairman Richard B. Shapiro. “Without them, none of us would be sitting here.”

The CHRB approved the rule by a 4-2 vote. Commissioners John Amerman, Jerry Moss, and Jesse Choper voted with Shapiro while Vice Chairman John Harris and commissioner John Andreini voted against the rule.

Horse owners must notify the paymaster of purses if they wish to opt out of the voluntary program. Marsha Naify, chairwoman of the TOC board, said she expects the vast majority of owners to participate. She calculated that with 100% participation, the donations would amount to about $450,000 a year.

Harris, while supporting the concept of humane care of retired horses, questioned whether the new account would be adequate and favored an “opt in” program instead.

Many owners and breeders support their own retired horses, and Harris questioned if a government-type program was the way to go. He suggested bringing jockeys, trainers, racetracks, and other segments of the industry into the program before going forward to avoid a tax on just one segment of the industry.

The program’s supporters said they would attempt to bring other facets of the industry on board.

“We’ve got nothing to lose and a lot to gain,” Shapiro said. “I would like to start with this program and grow it from here. We have to start somewhere, and if we don’t approve it now, I’m afraid we won’t ever get it going.”

The facilities receiving funds must be non-profit, approved by the CHRB, and must provide services to retired horses that competed in Thoroughbred races in California.

The program will go into effect when and if approved by the Office of Administrative Law.