DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) — The California Horse Racing Board has denied a license to Oak Tree Racing Association to run its fall meet at Santa Anita because of concerns about the track surface.
Horse owners, trainers and an expert on synthetic racing surfaces told the board at its meeting Thursday at Del Mar that they oppose having the fall meet at the Arcadia, Calif., track because of safety concerns about the synthetic surface.
The owners and trainers say they prefer running at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, which has a different brand of synthetic surface.
CHRB chairman Keith Brackpool told Oak Tree officials that he couldn’t vote to approve the meet, which was set to open Sept. 29. He said that may change if Oak Tree reaches an agreement with owners and trainers.
