Update re ARAC Board activities and Arabian Racing in California
As most of you know, Arabian racing in California has come on difficult times during the last couple of years. When the last independently owned major track in Northern California, Golden Gate Fields, closed, Thoroughbred horsemen in NorCal were left with only the 3 to 4 month long Fair circuit to race their horses. Needing year-around racing in order to stay in business, most moved to Southern California or out of State. This left the Fair circuit in NorCal with not enough horses to fill races and the fairs had to drop racing from their events. As the state racing laws in CA only require the County fairs to include the “emerging breeds” (all non-Thoroughbreds), the major tracks have been able to ignore and refuse to accommodate them.
The ARAC Board has determined to stay active and to revive Arabian racing in California. While members of ARAC have had to send horses to Texas to race, your ARAC officers have been in communication with Texas owners and trainers re bringing horses to California. Arabian racing in Texas runs through July, with none scheduled for the Fall.
There have been serious talks with independently owned Los Alamitos in SoCal re offering Arabian races this Fall. That track has raced Arabians in the past and they are willing to do so again if we can get enough horses committed. There are trainers, currently handling Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, at LosAl that would be willing to handle Arabians.
Do you have or know someone who has young athletic horses that just might make race horses? Have you wondered, as you watch them racing each other around the pasture, if that one or two who always want to lead the pack might be right for racing? If they are 3 or 4 years old and not old enough to go to endurance, but are in condition, have had their ground training and, maybe, have been saddled, they might be ready now for race training for this Fall. Some slightly older, but still of racing age might also be candidates.
Are any of your potential racers California Bred? Horses that are registered with the CalBred program through ARAC can earn money from that program for races in California. The ARAC Board has waived all fees through December 31, 2026, to register your horses of whatever age as CalBreds, as long as they meet all other program requirements. (See Registration form attached) There is also a co-program for CalBred sires for stallions that are standing in California and siring foals that are CalBred eligible and racing.
For more information or referrals to trainers, please feel free to contact ARAC.
Chairman: Cory Soltau, DVM, 925-683-7617 bvarabians@aol.com
Board member: Terri Eaton, T-bred & Arab trainer, 209-631-2031 testables@msn.com
Board mbr. & Secretary: Evelyn Call evcallarabs@att.net
