State Board Postpones Discussion of Calendar

The allocation of racing dates for 1999 was put on hold Friday by the California Horse Racing Board.

During the CHRB’s monthly meeting here, discussion on next year’s racing calendar was postponed--probably until the board’s September meeting--because the CHRB first wants to see what happens with Senate Bill 27.

The bill, which provides $40 million of tax relief to the horse racing industry, is expected to be signed soon by Gov. Pete Wilson and become effective Jan. 1. In addition to increasing purses, the bill would also bring a limited form of full-card simulcasting to California. Fans would be able to bet on up to 20 races from tracks around the country.

There is support for less racing throughout the state, especially in light of the recent rash of short fields at Del Mar--including a three-horse stakes race on Friday--and nine thoroughbred deaths.

Representing the Horse Alliance, a small, new organization interested in the treatment of all horses, Stacia Sullivan called for an immediate reduction in racing when speaking before the board Friday. She said she was prompted to attend the CHRB meeting because of the recent horse fatalities.

“I think there should be a cutback in horse racing in California,” she said. “My interest here is the health and humane treatment of horses. There should be some kind of action taken to have the horses race less.”

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Jockey Gary Stevens will be at Saratoga today to ride unbeaten Manistique against five other 3-year-old fillies in the $250,000 Alabama Stakes at 1 1/4 miles.

Owned by Marshall Naify and trained by John Shirreffs, the daughter of Unbridled arrives in New York having won her three starts at Hollywood Park, including the Hollywood Oaks, by a combined 31 lengths.

Completing the field in the Grade I race are French Braids, Lu Ravi, Brave Deed, Remember Ike and Banshee Breeze, who won the Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park in her last start July 25.

Horse Racing Notes

Jockey Matt Garcia will begin a five-day suspension on Sunday after being disqualified from first to fifth on Social Noel in Wednesday’s third race. . . . Jockey Fernando Valenzuela, who was disqualified on Airem Forbes in Thursday’s eighth race, also was suspended for five days, beginning Monday. . . . Tuzla is the 8-5 favorite on Jeff Tufts’ morning line for today’s feature, the $100,000 Osunitas Handicap at 1 1/16 miles on the turf. . . . Sharp Cat, expected to make her second start of the meeting in the $300,000 Chula Vista Handicap on Aug. 30, worked seven furlongs in 1:26 Friday morning for trainer Wally Dollase. . . . Californian and San Diego Handicap winner Mud Route will be sidelined for a couple of months because of a bone chip in his left front ankle, according to trainer Ron McAnally.