Inventory of the California Horse Racing Board Records
Processed by Larissa Harrison and Archives staff.
California State Archives
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: (916) 653-2246
Fax: (916) 653-7363
Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov
URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/
© 2004
California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.
Inventory of the California Horse Racing Board Records
Collection number: See series description
California State Archives
Office of the Secretary of State
Sacramento, California
Contact Information:
- California State Archives
- 1020 "O" Street
- Sacramento, California 95814
- Phone: (916) 653-2246
- Fax: (916) 653-7363
- Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov
- URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/
- Processed by:
- Larissa Harrison and Archives staff
- Date Completed:
- 2003
- Encoded by:
- Sara Roberson
© 2004 California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: California Horse Racing Board Records,
Date (inclusive): 1933-1995
Collection number: See series description
Creator:
California Horse Racing Board
Extent:
37 cubic feet.
Repository:
California State Archives
Abstract: Established in 1933 the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) regulates authorized California horse races that involve pari-mutuel
betting and protects the public from fraudulent operations.
Physical location: California State Archives.
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Access
Some records restricted per Government Code section 7923.600-7923.625 (formerly Gov. Code section 6254(f)).
Publication Rights
For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication
is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility
for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives
collections.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], California Horse Racing Board Records, [collection number], California State Archives, Office of
the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.
Acquisition Information
After standard review of the California Horse Racing Board records the California State Archives acquired these documents
because of their ablity to provide historical information.
Agency History
The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) was established in 1933 as an independent agency. Its creation came as the result
of a constitutional amendment that added Section 25a to Article IV of the Constitution of the State of California. The 1933
amendment required the creation of the CHRB and established its authority over the regulation of horse racing and pari-mutuel
wagering at licensed California racetracks. The Constitutional Revision of 1966 replaced Section 25a with Section 19b of Article
IV of the California Constitution. The CHRB's authority and enforcement practices are derived from the Business and Professions
Code, Chapter 4, Division 8 known as the Horse Racing Law (Stats 1933, ch.436, sections 1-19 p.1127-1137).
The function of the CHRB is to oversee and regulate authorized California horse races that involve pari-mutuel betting and
to protect the public from fraudulent operations. The Board does this by issuing occupational licenses to the horse owners,
jockeys, grooms and veterinarians who work with the horses on race days and the parimutuel operators who collect the bets
on race days. The CHRB has some enforcement capabilities. If any licensee commits an unlawful act, such as injecting a horse
with a banned drug on race day that person can have their license revoked and be required to pay a fine. The Board also investigates
complaints about licensees made by the general public at a race. To support this endeavor, the CHRB employs a division of
field investigators who as California Peace Officers enforce and investigate such violations at member racetracks throughout
the state.
Besides the field investigators, the CHRB also employs stewards who are in charge of the daily operations at racetracks. They
are responsible for ensuring that horse trainers and jockeys are aware of race times, that violations of the CHRB and member
racetracks' rules are not being committed, and that any violators are ejected from the tracks. The Board appoints the stewards
to their positions.
The CHRB is made up of seven members who are appointed by the Governor and serve for a period of four years. Members are often
well acquainted with horse racing in California. The CHRB also acts as a liaison with other states' horse racing boards or
commissions and help facilitate off track pari-mutuel wagering with other racetracks out of state through satellite wagering.
The CHRB also has several committees, which oversee the varied duties of the Board. One such committee, is the steward's committee,
is made of stewards and Board members to act on complaints and concerns of the stewards
Scope and Content
Files kept by the California Horse Racing Board include detailed meeting minutes, correspondence, annual statistical reports,
and information on horse racing tracks. Also included are the transcripts of hearings on the illegal activities of jockeys,
trainers, horse owners, and track officials. Some informative and commemorative pamphlets produced for individual horse racing
tracks can also be found in the collection.
Related Materials at the California State Archives
Other records series concerning the California Horse Racing Board can be found in the card catalog subject files under Horse
Racing. The California State Archives also has unprocessed records created by the California Horse Racing Board. Unprocessed
materials are identified by accession numbers: 2000-09-17, 2002-079, 2004-027.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into nine series: Satellite Facilities Minutes, Correspondence, Publicity Files, Investigation
Files, Board Meeting Minutes, Transcripts, Meeting Files,Advisory Committee Files, and Reports.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been associated with these materials in the Archives'
automated public access system (currently in development, December 2004).
Subjects
California Horse Racing Board.
Horse racing--Rules.
Racetracks--Horse racing.
Horse racing--Betting--Law and legislation.
Folder 92-10-05
Series 1.
Satellite Facilities Minutes, 1986-1990
Physical Description:
32 file folders.
Arrangement
Arranged by racetrack and year.
Scope and Content Note
The official minutes submitted to the CHRB from satellite and racetrack facilities throughout the state that existed in 1986.
The minutes describe the daily operations of the facilities along with unusual or extraordinary event including the reporting
Inter-Track steward's opinions about the running of the facility.
Folder 97-02-41
Series 2.
Correspondence, 1984-1988
Physical Description:
52 file folders.
Arrangement
Arranged by racetrack and year.
Scope and Content Note
Correspondence received by the CHRB's Administrative Office. The correspondence concerns license refusals and renewals, financial
complaints and violations of CHRB's policies. Also includes official reports on racetrack safety and maintenance at Bay Meadows
and Los Alamitos, including photographs.
Folder 96-05-13
Series 3.
Publicity Files, 1968-1995
Physical Description:
14 file folders.
Arrangement
Arranged by subject.
Scope and Content Note
Publicity material include press guides, commemorative publications, histories, and track schedules of Santa Anita, Los Alamitos,
Golden Gate Fields, Bay Meadows, and Hollywood Park Racetracks.
Folder 95-07-08, 93-10-15
Series 4.
Investigation Files, 1982-1990
Physical Description:
160 file folders.
Arrangement
Racetrack investigations arranged numerically by case number.
Individual investigations arranged alphabetically by last name.
Scope and Content Note
The first group consists of investigation reports and materials gathered by the CHRB's investigators at the various racetracks
in California. The majority of reports deal with financial complaints brought by unpaid trainers, grooms and merchants against
licensee. Another large group of investigations conducted by CHRB investigators concerns license acceptance and eligibility.
These usually concern past criminal acts by the applicant or illegal entry into the United States. There is also a small group
of reports that deal with disturbing crimes committed at the racetracks or by CHRB licenses. Others include accident reports,
drug tests for both horses and people; and necropsy reports on suspicious deaths of racehorses at the tracks. The latter group
of records consists of reports on persons ejected or removed from California racetracks for violations of state law and racetrack
policies. It also includes license refusals on candidates who have neglected to disclose a criminal past, illegal entry into
the U.S., suspended license issued by another U.S. horse racing regulatory agency; violation of CHRB policy or failure to
pass the necessary tests required for some licenses.
Access Note
Restricted records per Government Code 7923.600-7923.625 (formerly Gov. Code section 6254(f)).
Folder F3635:1-21
Series 5.
Board Minutes, 1935-1936;1945-1984
Physical Description:
21 file folders.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by date of meeting.
Scope and Content Note
Minutes from the California Horse Racing Board meetings relating to a wide variety of subjects. The notice of meeting includes
the individuals present, location, date, and issues discussed. Board directors, members, and locations of offices were noted
at the first meeting. Some minute books include subject indexes.
Folder F3635:22-305
Series 6.
Transcripts, 1940-1984
Physical Description:
18.5 cubic feet.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by date of hearing.
Scope and Content Note
Transcripts of hearings include date and location. Some have an index by the name of the individual testifying. Hearings pertain
to a variety of topics such as any illegal activities of jockeys and horse owners, applications for licenses, and proposals
for new racetracks.
Folder F3635:306-348
Series 7.
Meeting Files, 1980-1984
Physical Description:
42 file folders.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by date of meeting.
Scope and Content Note
Meeting files may include: detailed meeting agendas with meeting location and date, staff commentary on meeting, schedule
of racing dates, correspondence, and applications for licenses.
Folder F3635:349-360
Series 8.
Advisory Committee Files, 1982-1984
Physical Description:
12 file folders.
Arrangement
Arranged alphabetically by subject.
Scope and Content Note
Advisory committee files include meeting minutes, transcripts, and correspondence.
Folder F3635:361-362,96-05-13
Series 9.
Reports, 1933-1994
Physical Description:
10 file folders.
Arrangement
Arranged chronologically by year.
Scope and Content Note
Reports include: reports, budgets, and Statistical Reports of Operation, which are annual economic reports on horse racing
in California.