Drivers Petition Board to Work Los Alamitos

Twenty harness racing drivers denied the opportunity to drive in harness races at Los Alamitos Race Course have asked the California Horse Racing Board to overrule the new track operator.

Los Alamitos President Lloyd Arnold, one of four who bought the track from Hollywood Park for $71 million in November, had set minimum criteria for drivers at the beginning of the current harness meeting. Standards were based on experience and success rate the last two years. Arnold said that 82 drivers failed to meet the criteria and were not allowed to drive at his track.

In a letter to CHRB Chairman Henry Chavez, the 20 drivers, acting as a group, called Los Alamitos’ actions discriminatory and a violation of their civil rights. Attorney Richard Craigo, representing the group, asked that the matter be brought before the CHRB board meeting on Jan. 26. His request was denied.

Robert Mukai, a deputy attorney general representing the board, said the group had not notified the board 10 days in advance of the meeting, as required by open government laws. Mukai added, however, that the matter could be brought up in the general business session at the end of the meeting.

Craigo said his group will seek an injunction against the track, perhaps as early as next week, until the matter can be brought before the board. Craigo would not name all the drivers he represents, but he mentioned Kevin Tisher, Harris Levin and George Hardie. Tisher is a trainer, Hardie and Levin are owners.

Drivers must meet one of two standards to drive at Los Alamitos. The first is that a driver must have participated in at least 130 races in the last two years and won 8%--or about one in 12. The second criterion, designed for drivers who were either hurt or left the business for part of the last two years, says the driver should have raced in at least 65 races and been in the money about 25% of the time.

Chris McErlean, executive assistant for the Harness Tracks of America, says this is the first set of requirements of which he is aware.

“But those standards are not superstar standards,” McErlean said. “They are not exceptional and are probably a little below the national average.”

Arnold says he made those requirements to improve the integrity of the industry.

“If you go back and check these guys’ records, you’ll find that some of these guys may have only won one race in 50,” Arnold said. “Well, there are a lot of people who come to the race track for the first time and they don’t realize this and that’s bad for the public. These drivers have no chance of winning, and that’s bad for the sport.”

Dennis Hutcheson, assistant executive secretary of the CHRB, said he believes the track has the right to deny drivers the opportunity to drive. He could not, however, cite any legal precedent.

Arnold seems intent on making his stand on this issue.

“If I was told that I had to let everyone drive, then this race track will be for sale immediately,” Arnold said. “I don’t believe that will ever happen. But I’m committed to improve public perception, and I don’t want to be a part of this if we are mediocre.”