Judge Overturns Ban on Horsemen’s Lobbying

Judge Robert O’Brien of the Los Angeles Superior Court has overturned a California Horse Racing Board order that would have limited the ability of the California Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Assn. to lobby public officials on issues affecting its membership.

At its last monthly meeting, the CHRB issued an order limiting the amount that could be spent on lobbying to 5% of the CHBPA’s annual budget.

“While Judge O’Brien’s decision is good news, we have little time to revel in our victory,” CHBPA President Chris Clark said in a prepared statement Friday. “Our political voice has been silenced since last November and, now that the judge has ruled in our favor, we need to quickly press on with our legislative agenda.”