Harness Backers Sue Board for Pomona Dates

Lloyd Arnold and Chris Bardis, the two leading proponents of harness racing in California, have sued the California Horse Racing Board for racing dates at Fairplex Park in Pomona.

In the suit, filed in Sacramento, Los Alamitos Racing Assn., of which Arnold and Bardis are owners, asks the court to overturn a decision by the CHRB that denies the group the right to run harness racing three nights a week at Fairplex between Oct. 26 and Jan. 12.

The CHRB denied the racing dates at the last meeting, saying that it impacted thoroughbred racing, which uses Fairplex as a training site. The proposal to race was supported by Ed Allred, who runs a quarter horse meeting at Los Alamitos, but a group that represents quarter horse owners and trainers opposed the licensing. The proposed Fairplex harness meeting would run at the same time as the Los Alamitos quarter horse meeting.

The suit alleges that the denial of a license would effectively kill harness racing in California as a racing and breeding proposition. It also says the Los Angeles County Fair, which owns Fairplex, could profit by as much as $750,000. The fair is guaranteed $500,000. The state would also benefit in handle.

The case will be heard Wednesday.