Thoroughbred Owners of California

Edited Press Release As California grapples with a budget deficit in the tens of billions of dollars, the horse industry has grown financially for the state over the last five years; responsible for billions of dollars in economic impact and tens of thousands of jobs, according to a report released by the American Horse Council. In 2023, the equine ecosystem provided a total value of $11.6 billion to California's economy and a direct contribution of $6.5 billion to state GDP, according to the report. This marks a significant increase from...

Last June, Pat Cummings, executive director of the National Thoroughbred Alliance and former executive director of the Thoroughbred Idea Foundation, issued a stark warning about the encroaching impacts from Computer Assisted Wagering (CAW) to the men and women trying to forge a living through horse racing in the Golden State. CAW players constitute a small group of mostly anonymous, high-volume gamblers with an outsized impact on the betting markets--including in California--due to their use of sophisticated wagering technologies and the inducements offered to them in the form of attractive rates...

The precarious, up-in-the-air future of California racing and whether or not the state can continue to support two geographic year-round circuits was made no clearer after Thursday's California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) meeting. The 3 1/2-hour session was dominated by discussion of competing North-versus-South plans that both tried to carve a sustainable path forward while underscoring the dire circumstances that face the industry with the June 9 closure of Golden Gate Fields looming like an unavoidable asteroid. Although the CHRB concluded the meeting--which featured testimony that was at times emotional,...

John C. Harris, Ty Green and Andy Mathis have been appointed to the board of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC). Owner of Harris Farms, Harris was inducted into the California Racing Hall of Fame in 2008 and was honored last year by the Edwin J. Gregson Foundation for his industry service. Harris Farms has been connected to over 50 California divisional champions, including eight California Horses of the Year. He is a former California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) Commissioner and currently serves on the board of the California Thoroughbred...

Three directors of the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) have resigned from their positions in protest of the board's co-signature on a proposal to the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) that would concretize racing operations in South California at the expense, they say, of a potential viable racing circuit in the North. The former directors also claim the proposal was submitted without their prior knowledge. "On January 5th a letter from the TOC and the Southern California racetrack operators was sent to the CHRB requesting the allocation of race dates...

The overnight purses for Golden Gate Fields' final meet are potentially set for a 25% cut due to a longstanding overpayment of the purse account, according to Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) president and CEO, Bill Nader. The Bay Area racetrack is scheduled to race from Dec. 26 through June 9, 2024, after which, the facility is set to close permanently. The purse account, said Nader, is overpaid by some $3.1 million. "There's a pretty big overpayment that's been building," said Nader. "They're looking to claw some of it back,...

Two weeks after an initial company announcement on the closure of Golden Gate Fields at the end of the year, The Stronach Group (TSG) issued details Friday on their plans for consolidating racing operations at its Southern California racing and training facilities, Santa Anita and San Luis Rey Downs. The plan--shared via Zoom during a press briefing lasting about 30 minutes--appeared large on big-ticket promises though short on specifics in other key areas, including the broader industry impacts from the closure of Golden Gate Fields. The following details were divulged...

Gary Barber, Gary Fenton, Terry Lovingier, Tim Cohen, and Matt Dohman have been elected to three-year terms for the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC)'s Board of Directors and will take office July 1. They will join Nick Alexander, Joe Ciaglia, Rick Gold, Ryan Hanson, Stephanie Hronis, Lindsey LaRoche, Bob Liewald, Ed Moger, Samantha Siegel, and Johnny Taboada as TOC's 2023-24 Board. Richard Rosenberg, a former board member of the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB), has agreed to stay on with the organization as an appointed member of the Integrity &...

Point him at a fork in the road and Matthew Dohman will likely take the one consecrated by Robert Frost. When he founded his mortgage lending company, he did so in the middle of the global financial meltdown when homebuying was as popular as volcano surfing. When he purchased his first horses at the sales, he eschewed sage counsel from agent and trainer and picked 'em largely himself. Didn't do too bad, either. The Cal-bred Guy Code, who he snagged for $63,000, ended up winning nearly a quarter-million. And when...

Long-time owner and breeder Mike Pegram will receive the Chairman's Award Aug. 12 from the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) at the TOC's Southern California Annual Meeting at Del Mar. Alternately named the Ed Friendly Industry Service Award, the Chairman's Award is presented annually to recognize outstanding contributions and service in racing. "Mike is an exceptional leader who continues to make a lasting impact on both this organization and California racing," said TOC Chairman Gary Fenton. "His dedication, hard work, and commitment are an inspiration to all of us, and...

Round 2 of the free Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) Horseplayers Tour has been set for the Santa Anita card on Memorial Day, Monday, May 29. To enter, visit the Horseplayers website and click on the sign up link. Selections will open between 5:00 and 10:00 p.m. ET approximately 24 hours prior to the contest. The top-10 finishers will be announced after a 48-hour audit period. The top-10 finishers in each feeder round must join the NHC Tour to be able to compete in the Final Round on Dec. 26....

Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) has named Robert Katayama of Clovis and Lisa Rodrigues of San Diego as Rookie of the Year award winners for 2022. The award honors enthusiastic new owners who are committed to racing in California. Nominations are considered annually. "The TOC Owner Relations Committee looks forward to the Rookie of the Year nominations and awards each year," said Owner Relations Chairwoman Stephanie Hronis. "We celebrate new owners and their commitment and appreciation of the equine athlete. This year we are thrilled to recognize a Rookie of...