Cooke Is Off Racing Board

Phoebe Cooke said Friday that Gov. George Deukmejian had not reappointed her to the California Horse Racing Board.

Cooke, an heiress to the Hearst publishing empire, joined the board in September of 1989, filling the unexpired term of Ben Felton. That term ended at the end of 1990.

Cooke’s spot on the seven-member board is being filled by Paul Deats, who was already on the board. By replacing Cooke, Deats receives a four-year term instead of serving out his term, which was due to expire this July.

Deats, who confirmed his four-year term Friday, said that Ralph Scurfield, former board chairman of the California Exposition and State Fair in Sacramento, is filling the Deats term that expires in July.