Entire Derby Card to Be Simulcast for Betting at Some California Sites

As the result of a generous interpretation of state statutes, California racing fans will be able to wager on the Kentucky Derby and nine other races simulcast from Churchill Downs today at 14 satellite betting sites.

Usually, any out-of-state race beamed to California tracks must be worth at least $100,000, according to the Business and Professions codes governing parimutuel racing. Other than the Derby, the biggest purse on Saturday’s card from Churchill Downs is $75,000.

But the California Horse Racing Board and its executive secretary, Dennis Hutcheson, apparently have sidestepped that rule to make the entire Churchill Downs program available. Civil unrest has shut down Hollywood Park and Los Alamitos since Thursday.

Not everyone is pleased, particularly George DiGiovanni, a spokesman for the parimutuel clerks guild currently involved in a contract dispute with California tracks.

“Because Hollywood isn’t running, they really can’t even take the Kentucky Derby, according to law” DiGiovanni said. “But Mr. Hutcheson thinks he’s above the law.”

Satellite sites will be manned by non-union clerks.

“This will give racing fans an opportunity to watch and wager on the Derby,” board spokesman Mike Marten said. “And with Hollywood Park shut down for a week and the resulting loss of income to the state, we’re just trying to do something constructive in a bad period of time.”

Hollywood Park, Santa Anita, Los Alamitos and Fairplex Park in Pomona will not be among the betting sites. The nearest satellites to metropolitan Los Angeles are Del Mar, Lancaster, Ventura and San Bernardino. Racing is not scheduled to resume at Hollywood until next Wednesday.

The first race will be run at 8:30 a.m. PDT.