California horse racing board approves 2004 dates

DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) The California Horse Racing Board on Thursday authorized the Oak Tree Racing Association to begin its meet at Santa Anita on Sept. 28.

By opening a day earlier than originally scheduled, the track can offer major prep races for the Breeders' Cup, which Santa Anita will host Oct. 25.

The Sunday opening will overlap with closing day of the Fairplex meet in Pomona.

Santa Anita will run four major stakes on opening day: the Lady's Secret Handicap, the Yellow Ribbon Stakes, the Oak Leaf Stakes and the Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship.

On Breeders' Cup day, Santa Anita will have a 12-race card with first post of 9:40 a.m. PST. The eight Breeders' Cup races will conclude at 3:15 p.m. PST, followed by three more races.

The board also approved 2004 racing dates.

Santa Anita's winter meeting will open Dec. 26 and run through April 18, followed by Hollywood Park (April 21-July 18), Del Mar (July 21-Sept. 8), Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting (Sept. 29-Oct. 31) and Hollywood Park (Nov. 3-Dec. 20).

Meanwhile, CHRB commissioner John Harris suggested requiring racetracks operating more than 30 days of racing a year to install video surveillance cameras capable of long-term recording at all sensitive places around the backstretch, including all entrances, exits, the receiving barn and inside barns.

Harris also suggested a requirement for racetracks to provide sufficient cameras to eliminate blind spots in races, including head-on shots on all ovals.

Harris wants tracks to have sufficient space on their tote boards to show data for all wagering interests. Hollywood Park president Rick Baedeker said an LED display board has been purchased that will rotate among Southern California tracks.

Harris' suggestions will be discussed more fully at a public meeting likely to be held in September.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)