Bill That Would Create Race Track Called Mistake : Legislature: Bonsall residents, Del Mar track officials against proposal. State senator plans to amend bill.

Scrambling to undo what she says was a “misunderstanding,” a state senator said Monday she will drop provisions in one of her bills that would create a horse racing track near Bonsall to rival the popular Del Mar Fairgrounds.

But Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) said she still intends to push for allowing North County millionaire Mildred Vessels to donate part of her San Luis Rey ranch as a “citrus fair”--an official designation that could eventually allow Vessels to operate an off-track betting operation.

Bonsall residents expressed shock about the project, saying that a fairgrounds and the accompanying traffic would destroy the area’s rural atmosphere. Operators of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club also oppose the proposal, saying the San Diego market cannot bear another satellite-wagering operation.

The bill has been introduced but no action has been taken on it yet.

Bergeson conceded that she “had no idea” that her bill would create a second San Diego County district agricultural association with its own fairgrounds and permission to hold live horse races for three weeks a year. There are 54 such associations in California, each of which runs a fair and has a board appointed by the governor. Bergeson’s office introduced the bill at the request of Vessels, one-time owner of the Los Alamitos Race Track in Orange County, and Jack Clifford, a Sacramento lobbyist for horse-racing interests.

Bergeson said she introduced the pre-written legislation as a courtesy because Vessels’ property is in her district. She and her aide, Chris Kahn, both said they didn’t catch the horse-racing provision because the measure was handed to them only hours before the March 8 deadline for all 1991 proposals.

“I think it was a misunderstanding,” Bergeson said. “I was not putting in a bill to have live racing. My intent was to receive land for the purpose of a citrus fair.”

Bergeson said she will amend the controversial proposal to take out the live horse-racing provision and downgrade the designation from an agricultural association to the less prestigious “citrus fair,” which would help area farmers promote avocados. There are only two other such fairs in California--in San Bernardino and Cloverdale--and board members are not appointed.

Even at that, Bergeson conceded, the citrus fair designation could still allow Vessels to run an off-track betting operation if she receives a license from the state.

Bergeson said she feels the population growth in North County and nearby Riverside County warrants a second fair in the area.

Neither Vessels nor Clifford could be reached for comment.

Bonsall residents interviewed contend that Vessels’ ultimate goal is to institute satellite wagering, which they view as a threat to the tranquility of their community.

“This has taken the community not only by surprise, but it’s a shock,” said Dominic Savoca, president of the Bonsall Community Assn.

With the exception of American Indian reservations and privately owned race tracks existing before 1988, satellite wagering can only occur at state fairgrounds.

The recent advent of satellite wagering at the Sycuan Indian reservation in El Cajon already has affected attendance at Del Mar, said Joe Harper, president and general manager of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, which controls the live racing at the fairgrounds.

Frammolino reported from Sacramento and Gaw from North County.