Los Alamitos could face shutdown

The California Horse Racing Board has called an emergency meeting for Friday to discuss the possibility of shutting down Los Alamitos Race Course temporarily in light of a rise in horse deaths.

Since May 26, nine horses have died racing and/or training at the Orange County track. Twenty-one horses in total have died since the season started Dec. 27.

This will be the first meeting called under expanded powers given to the CHRB by the legislature last year after the rise in deaths at Santa Anita. Before SB 469, the CHRB would have to give 10 days’ public notice before it could hold a meeting regarding the suspension of a racing license. Now, it can be done on a day’s notice.

“The CHRB was concerned with what seemed to be an uptick in equine fatalities,” said Scott Chaney, executive director. “We thought it was worthwhile to have a discussion on how to decrease those numbers and reverse the trend.”

Chaney filed a petition for the meeting at 9:25 a.m. Thursday, five minutes before the deadline to hold a 9:30 a.m. teleconference on Friday.

“Nothing is predetermined, there is no fait accompli as to what the board may do,” Chaney said. “They can do nothing, to putting restrictions on them, to closing them down.”

Chaney, who said he decided on the emergency meeting after consulting with chairman Greg Ferraro and vice chair Oscar Gonzales, is not a member of the six-person board. He said he has not discussed it with any other board members. The CHRB has to make a determination within five days of the special meeting, but also could do it immediately.

Los Alamitos did not immediately respond to a request for comment.