THOROUGHBRED RACING : CHBPA to Study Betting Trends

The California Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Assn. will sponsor a two-day conference Jan. 4-5 on the effect other forms of gambling could have on horse racing.

Brian Sweeney, an owner, breeder and trainer who also is a director of the CHBPA, announced plans for the conference during the California Horse Racing Board’s monthly meeting Friday at a Los Angeles hotel.

Sweeney said that the conference will bring together all parts of the thoroughbred, quarter horse and harness industries.

“(The object) is to find how our game is impacted by other games,” Sweeney said. “I’m not against anything that’s going to help us, but I am against anything that is going to harm us.”

Sweeney cited Keno, the new game instituted by the California lottery this week, as being potentially harmful. However, several in attendance didn’t share Sweeney’s views, and praised the city of Inglewood’s recent approval of a card club at Hollywood Park.

Ed Friendly, an owner and vice president of the CHBPA, criticized Sweeney.

“Many members of the CHBPA are not trainers,” Friendly said. “Owners are an 85% majority. . . . Speaking for myself and others, we, as owners, believe we should experiment (with other forms of gambling) and find out what is good and bad for racing. Let’s find out with experiments and not make any decisions ahead of time.”

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The Department of Justice’s report on the clenbuterol investigation requested by the CHRB was on the agenda Friday, but it first has to be presented to the district attorney in Sacramento County, who will decide whether or not to file criminal charges.

Earlier this year, CHRB executive secretary Dennis Hutcheson dismissed charges against four trainers whose horses tested positive for clenbuterol, an illegal drug. This angered many horsemen and CHRB commissioner Rosemary Ferraro and prompted the investigation into the way the matter was handled.

According to Hal Diaz, the CHRB’s assistant secretary-licensing and enforcement, special agent Ron Eichner’s written report is nearly complete and the next step is presenting it to the district attorney. “The Department of Justice can’t release the report without the D.A.’s approval,” Diaz said.

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In other business, the CHRB agreed with its stewards’ committee and voted to proceed with the rule-making process to prevent excessive and abusive whipping of horses and to regulate the size and shapes of whips. The rule-making process takes three months.

In the meantime, stewards at all tracks will be instructed to watch for abusive and excessive whipping and to be aggressive in dealing with any offenders.

The Board also appointed Robert Jack the new Equine Medical Director, effective Jan. 1, 1993, and that it will continue its interagency agreement with UC Davis.

Jack, the immediate past president of the American Assn. of Equine Practitioners and the president of the World Equine Assn. since 1987, succeeds Dennis Meagher. Jack’s office will be at the CHRB headquarters in Sacramento. A resident of Langley, British Columbia, Jack has been practicing equine veterinary medicine for more than 20 years.

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The Wicked North, unbeaten in three starts this year, is the 2-1 morning line favorite for the $109,500 Lazaro Barrera Handicap today at 1 1/16 miles.

A field of eight 3-year-olds was reduced by the scratch of Prospect For Four, who was entered Friday morning in a turf allowance race on Sunday.

Owned by Philip Hersh and trained by David Bernstein, The Wicked North has been impressive in all three of his victories and will be ridden by Kent Desormeaux, who will return from a five-day suspension this afternoon.

“He’s coming up to the race in excellent shape,” said Bernstein, who added that the Far North colt is easily the best horse he has ever trained.

“Each race has been more impressive than the other. We wondered about two turns and whether he could take pressure and draw off, and he did.

“Kent has said this horse could come from anywhere. He’s so relaxed he pays no attention to other horses. He’s extremely confident.”

Mineral Wells, perfect in four starts, is the 5-2 second choice, then comes Casual Lies, the 120-pound highweight, at 3-1. The rest of the field includes L’Express, Lottery Winner, Solid Truth and Star Recruit.

Horse Racing Notes

A field of 12 was entered Friday morning for the $400,000 Hollywood Derby on Sunday, topped by Volante winner Blacksburg, Breeders’ Cup Mile runner-up Paradise Creek and Europe’s Shanghai and Kitwood. The Derby will be run at 1 1/8 miles on the turf.

ABC will televise the Santa Anita Derby and Santa Anita Handicap live for the next three years in an agreement reached between the track and the network. . . . Hollywood Park will offer betting on the Budweiser-Hawthorne Gold Cup between the second and third races today.