Labor Inspectors End 2-Day Sweep of Horse Tracks

State and federal labor authorities wrapped up their enforcement sweep of four California horse-racing tracks Thursday, issuing fines as inspectors continued to find significant violations of overtime, minimum wage and record-keeping laws.

The two-day action is the first aimed at labor conditions at tracks since the mid-1980s, when inspectors were called off a similar action by their top brass, officials said.

This week’s action involved more than 30 inspectors from the state labor comissioner’s office, the U.S. Department of Labor and the state Employment Development Department. The California Horse Racing Board accompanied inspectors on their visits to the stables, where they interviewed more than 200 workers and looked at payroll records.

In coming weeks, authorities said, they will audit those records to determine whether workers are owed back wages. Officials also said they may conduct more sweeps as needed.

“This is an issue that has been brought to light,” said Dean Fryer, spokesman for the labor commissioner. “We’re going to continue in the future.”

Fryer said his office would present a report on this week’s raids to a Senate committee on Tuesday, when legislators will hear several bills related to track issues.