NEWS
CHRB pushes MI Developments on future plans, Oak Tree lease
Posted: Thursday, July 22, 2010 8:49 PM
by Steve Schuelein
The slow and unclear responses of MI Developments Inc. to requests by the California Horse Racing Board for future plans muddled a CHRB meeting at Del Mar on Thursday.
One month after MI Developments Chairman Frank Stronach sparred with the CHRB at Hollywood Park during a stormy session and was told to provide more detailed plans of his vision for California racing, four of his subordinates offered limited additional help.
“I think it’s beyond frustration,” said CHRB Chairman Keith Brackpool to the quartet of George Haines, Frank DeMarco, Robert Hartman, and Scott Daruty. “This is the third conversation in a row like this.”
Haines, president and general manager of Los Angeles Turf Club Inc., which operates the winter meet at Santa Anita Park, said: “We have committed financial documents and will promote to the best of our abilities with the assets we have.”
Brackpool said: “The idea that you’ve got some magic box that you’re going to open is fantasy. Let’s not pretend it’s a confidentiality issue if it’s not. We have a duty to protect and we’re not going to waive it.”
Brackpool said he was growing tired of “the dog ate the homework” excuse and added that it was “difficult for the board to do what’s in the best interest of racing when you take a version of the fifth [amendment] at every meeting.”
The board also was shocked to learn that the one-year lease hammered out between Stronach and the Oak Tree Racing Association for September 29 through October 31 at Santa Anita remained in limbo.
Sherwood Chillingworth, Oak Tree executive vice president, said he had signed the papers, but DeMarco, vice president of regulatory affairs at Santa Anita, said MI Developments had not inked a final version.
After a few minutes of give and take, Brackpool demanded that a contract be signed by both parties by Friday afternoon.
Brackpool also moved to “extend the existing licenses of the Los Angeles Turf Club, the Pacific Racing Association (operator of Golden Gate Fields) and Xpress Bet advance-deposit wagering until December 26, and the existing waiver of Business and Professions Codes sections 19483 and 19484 prohibiting common ownership, in order for their parent company MI Developments to prepare and submit to the board a comprehensive plan setting forth its intended business practices and procedures for operation of Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields as Thoroughbred horse racing venues, with the utilization of Xpress Bet as an ADW platform, all under common ownership.
“In order to ensure MI Developments discloses its future intended business practices and procedures for the Los Angeles Turf Club, the Pacific Racing Association, and Xpress Bet in a forthright manner and stating its business plan for Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields as Thoroughbred horse racing venues, the document to be submitted will be deemed exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Act and California Evidence Code.” The document is due by September 1.
Guy LaMothe, an executive with Thoroughbred Owners of California, said, “What we need in California is some stability, to know our anchor racetrack [Santa Anita] will be here, and we’re not sending out that message today.”
Trainer John Sadler, president of California Thoroughbred Trainers, concurred. “We need numbers for what they’re going to do. The barn area is in terrible shape. Today is the first I’ve heard about them planning to start some work on the track next week.”
Brackpool said to Haines that better communication is necessary.
“I insist you sit down with TOC and CTT and work through this issue,” he said.
In separate CHRB action in closed session, jockey Patrick Valenzuela was granted a conditional license to return to riding in California. Valenzuela, 47, had his California license terminated following a DUI arrest in Upland, California, on December 20, 2007.
The talented but troubled Valenzuela has led a checkered career with Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup victories tempered by a long history of drug and alcohol abuse and numerous suspensions.
Valenzuela most recently has ridden at Louisiana Downs, where he ranks third in the standings, through Tuesday. Tom Knust will serve as his agent.
Before Valenzuela may apply for a license, he must enter into a contract with the Winners Foundation and abide by a program dealing with the treatment of alcoholism.
Steve Schuelein is a Southern California-based correspondent for Thoroughbred Times
