$38 million purse enhancement bill passes committee --- CTBA

[Guest]

Bill to Boost Purses, Breeders' Awards Passes out of Committee

When testimony for Senate Bill 873 (Florez) was taken on Tuesday, April 24, virtually all of California's racing interests lined up in support of the $38 million in purse and breeders' award increases it proposes.

All but the CTBA. No one from the CTBA showed up in Sacramento to comment on the historic legislation, which passed the critical "GO" committee on a 7-0 vote.

If approved by the legislature and Governor, the bill will allow California racetracks to retain the hefty "license fees" now paid to the state, and to return them to horsemen. The full state senate has until June 8 to approve the bill; the assembly and Governor will subsequently act on it.

In addition, a "Special Trust Fund for the Economic Stabilization of Horse Racing," financed by tribal compacts singed after January 1, 2007, would be created under the new law.

Attached to this newsletter is the Senate legislative analysis of SB 873.

According to "GO" committee staffer Brenda Heiser, CTBA lobbyist BOB FOX did not appear before the committee, nor did he offer it any written testimony in favor of the bill.

Organizations which did make presentations to the senators included Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), Magna Entertainment, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, Alameda County Fair, Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association, and Western Fairs Association.

CTBAboardwatch submitted a letter of support for SB 873 to each member of the "GO" committee one week ago.

CTBAboardwatch offers its appreciation to those industry leaders which participated in this important legislative event. CTBAboardwatch once again decries the CTBA's ongoing lack of leadership in issues critical to breeders.

CTBAboardwatch challenges the CTBA board of directors to publicly answer one question:

"Why is the CTBA paying Bob Fox to lobby on Agricultural legislation which affects California's largest growers and cattle operations---and against conflict-of-interest legislation which affects CHRB board members---while it ignores legislation such as SB 873 which affects California Thoroughbred breeders?"

CTBAboardwatch is supported by more than 150 horsemen and women who are vitally concerned about California's struggling Thoroughbred industry. We have no membership applications, dues or fees. You're a member if you say you are! More than 1,300 industry participants receive our newsletters.

[Rokeby Forever]

Nice to know the CTBAboardwatch has both "conviction and courage." That would make another poster here proud!

[CA Michael]

Well, Im glad to see that a new poster saw fit to post our article about the CTBA. However, I am not aware who this poster is, since the four of us who wrote it didn't do it. Hopefully, it's not you-know-who! I guess future posts will determine that.

[FloridaGators]

Unbelievable... Is this forum's moderator so dense that he/she can't see what CA Michael is up to??

CA Michael... Like the rest of the CA breeding industry, we can all see through your attempts to create artifical support for your laughable website and anti-CTBA cause. You're not fooling anyone, except perhaps yourself that the rest of us can't see right through you're primative methods. You're on the intellectual playing field of roughly a 9th grade adolescent.

[CA Michael]

In addition to any number of elementary spelling errors, your post contains several untruths. Creating false identities, etc., is not something I have done or would ever consider doing. Obviously, Im not shy about posting my opinions under my own handle, so why on earth would I create multiples?

Your posts thus far have had the singular purpose of spreading rumors and lies. As a wannabee bloodstock agent from Gallura, Idaho, wouldn't your time be better spent in the accumulation of knowledge?

[Roguelet]

Unbelievable... Is this forum's moderator so dense that he/she can't see what CA Michael is up to??

CA Michael... Like the rest of the CA breeding industry, we can all see through your attempts to create artifical support for your laughable website and anti-CTBA cause. You're not fooling anyone, except perhaps yourself that the rest of us can't see right through you're primative methods. You're on the intellectual playing field of roughly a 9th grade adolescent.

No, FloridaGators... Not dense... quite the opposite. I realize that things are not always what they seem. Incidentally, since you are not a moderator, this is none of your concern.

[Sam]

Unbelievable... Is this forum's moderator so dense that he/she can't see what CA Michael is up to?

I give Michael a little more credit than this. He knows having multiple usernames is a bannable offense and this would be too obvious. It's either a sock looking to set him up, or a legitimate user wishing to disseminate information.

Why you're suddenly hating on Michael is a mystery to me, though, 'gator.

No matter.. and it's really not a good idea on any forum to challenge a moderator so overtly.

BTW, 'gator, did you see that Awesome Again x Flight Delight foal you said had knee chips and would likely never race is a winner/stakes horse and earning of over $120k? That Lit de Justice baby is also a winner.

[zinn21]

Sam wrote, "BTW, 'gator, did you see that Awesome Again x Flight Delight foal you said had knee chips and would likely never race is a winner/stakes horse and earning of over $120k? That Lit de Justice baby is also a winner."

The Horseracing Gods push the "so you think you can judge horses and go public" button again.