NEWS
California Thoroughbred Trainers takes position against synthetic surfaces
Posted: Thursday, January 28, 2010 10:05 AM
The newly installed board of directors of the California Thoroughbred Trainers will seek to replace the state’s synthetic racetrack surfaces with natural surfaces.
In a statement, the board said the position is based on a recent poll of the membership. Santa Anita Park announced last week that the track’s Pro-Ride synthetic surface would be pulled out at the end of the current meet and possibly replaced with dirt.
The divisive issue of synthetic surfaces led some Southern California-based trainers to seek to decertify the California Thoroughbreds Trainers (CTT) last fall as the official representative of trainers in the state.
An offshoot group decided to pull back when the CTT agreed to hold a special election to replace its current board.
In the new board’s first meeting on Wednesday, the board elected John Sadler as president and Darrell Vienna and Gloria Haley as vice presidents.
Vienna spearheaded the creation of the offshoot group, which called itself California Horsemen for Change. Vienna has been an outspoken critic of the synthetic surfaces that were installed at major racetracks in the state to adhere with a mandate from the California Horse Racing Board.
Sadler served as president of the CTT previously, until the board asked him to take a leave of absence in September 2008 after 18 of his horses tested positive for steroid violations that summer.
In July 2009, Ed Halpern announced he would resign as the CTT’s executive director, effective at the start of 2010. The board said Halpern has offered to provide assistance without compensation in the transition period.
On Wednesday, the board authorized the solicitation of applications for the position.
