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► — Rules State Could Step In if Racing Is Curtailed California Board Attorney Says Licensees Would Face Revocation HOLLYWOOD PARK, Inglewood, Calif., May 9. — On important development in the purse dispute between the Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association and Hollywood Park brought owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms, platers and all other licensees of the California Racing Board face to face with the possibility of revocation of their licenses. This information was given by William V. OConnor, assistant state attorney general representing the Board, who informed a Daily Racing Form Continued on Page Five Opinion on Possible Race Curtailment California Board Attorney Rules Licensees Would Face Revocation in Such a Case Continued from Page One representative that the Board, in requesting the attorney generals office for its opinion as to what action could be taken by the Board to prevent stoppage of racing, was advised that under rule 1981 of the rules of racing of the California Horse Racing Board, from the California Administrative Code, the Board could revoke the license of any licensee participating, directly or indirectly, in aiding or abetting the stoppage of racing. OConnor stated that "my only interest in this matter is the welfare of the state of California, whom I represent, and the revenue derived from racing by the state. If the race meeting scheduled to open Tuesday at Hollywood Park is, in anyway, hampered from being conducted in a normal way by any licensee of the California Horse Racing Board, I will personally file charges against said licensee for revocation of his, or her license under rule 1981." OConnor added "and if the Hollywood Turf Club should violate this rule, I would personally file charges against them to revoke its license." Since under the National Association of . State Racing Commissioners each state recognizes fines and suspensions and revocation of licenses in other states, such action by the states attorney generals office or the racing board would neces- i sarily deprive all affected of their means of livlihood for an extended period. Murphys Comment Daily Racing Form contacted Dwight , Murphy, chairman of the California Horse Racing Board, at his Santa Barbara offices and apprised him of OConnors statement. Murphy said that he was aware of rule 1981 and while he could "only speak for myself, I am personally concerned that an attempt should be made to see that Hollywood Park is given the opportunity to conduct a normal meeting. If, after a reasonable length of time it is obvious that a i normal meeting is not being conducted, then the Board will have to take action. However, it must be remembered that the Boards jurisdiction over any race track does not begin until the meeting actually * opens. Our jurisdiction at Hollywood Park does not begin until Tuesday, May 12. I will be in Sacramento on Tuesday, but will arrive in Los Angeles Wednesday afternoon and will call a meeting of the Board imme- * diately if the situation at Hollywood Park is such as to consider it an emergency." , Following a conference with C. Ray Robinson, Merced attorney who has been serving as spokesman for the horsemens group, t California division, read this afternoon scored assistant attorney general OCon- L nors reference to the possibility that the horsemen could be suspended under rule 1981 if they did not race their horses dur- ing the forthcoming Hollywood Park meeting. "This rule was originally promulgated by the TRA several years ago," said Robinson, who is a practicing attorney in Columbus, * Ohio, "but it has even been dropped by that organization after being thoroughly dis- credited and invalidated and rescinded in Florida and Illinois. Mr. OConnor had apparently overlooked the fact that the prospective purse distribution at Hollywood Park has never been approved by the horse- * men. "I am told that it is a matter of record . on the minutes of the California Horse Racing Board that the horsemen were ask-. ing for a purse distribution of 40 per cent of the track take more than 60 days ago. I am also informed that the California * Horse Racirlg Board was so informed at that time and prior to the Hollywood Park i announcement of its purse distribution. "No horseman has accepted the proposed purse distribution. Further than that it is my opinion that the rule is unenforceable because it amounts to confiscation of a » horsemans property without a hearing in the right of a horseman to examine a tracks schedule of purse distribution in advance of its acceptance by the Board. In summarizing this let me say that it is just * another attempt to intimidate the horsemen into accepting something that they t have repeatedly declared was unsatisfactory." ♦ the following statement was a result of this action: "The Executive Committee of the National Board of Directors of the Horsemens Benevolent and Protective Association today recommended to the Canadian and United States divisions of our associations that its owner-trainer members be directed to engage only those employes who are in a position to give our members their undivided loyalty in return for their remuneration. This resolution was adopted as a result of the action of the TRA in waiving a like provision in its code of standards and ethics. The executive committee, recognizing the need of this provision, took this action today stating that such a rule was vitally necessary to assure a continuation of public confidence in thoroughbred racing."
