April 2, 2012 - Commissioners
California Horse Racing Board 1010 Hurley Way, Suite 300 Sacramento, CA 95825
Dear Commissioners:
On behalf of the California Exposition & State Fair, we respectfully request the allocation of harness racing dates at Cal Expo for the period of August 24, 2012 through December 15, 2012.
We are sensitive to any issues the Board may have regarding the allocation of dates without a named and approved operator. However, the precedent for the allocation of harness racing dates at Cal Expo has been set when dates were allocated to the owner of the facility, Cal Expo. I have attached various letters showing the historical precedent when Cal Expo requested the dates and another operator managed the meet.
We understand that dates have never been allocated to Cal Expo without a named operator. As we all know, these are different times and with your assistance and the dates allocated, we believe it offers us an additional negotiating point and still allows you to approve a qualified operator here in the near future.
For the betterment of the California harness racing industry, please consider this request for the following reasons: 1) The backstretch at every race track has its own information system and for this one it’s quelling the daily rumor mill. Horsemen and women currently racing at Cal Expo are now feeling the anxiety that accompanies uncertainty and not knowing if there will be racing in the Fall. The request for the allocation of these dates and the approval by the CHRB will absolutely quell some of their fears and hopefully set aside plans for them to move elsewhere. 2) By requesting and receiving approval for the allocation of racing dates, one regulatory item that clears the way for future operators is out of the way. 3) There are no known competing entities in California that are requesting the allocation of harness racing dates. 4) We do not know of any opposition to our request and we feel confident we can garner support of our request from the CHHA. If our request is approved, the Board would only have to rescind their approval for this allocation should an operator not come forward with a license application to operate.
We appreciate the Board’s patience and support in this matter and the latitude that will assist us to move forward with harness racing at Cal Expo. Our Cal Expo Board is extremely sensitive to the business of harness racing and the many livelihoods impacted by the industry. Your support and approval of our request is sincerely appreciated.
Very Respectfully, CALIFORNIA EXPOSITION & STATE FAIR David Elliott, Assistant General Manager, Racing Events.
