From the EXECUTIVE CORNER

ROBYN BLACK

CTBA LOBBYIST

Lara from Bell Gardens. Lara is currently POLICY COMMITTEE, MEMBERS, running for Insurance Commissioner to replace Dave Jones. AND WHY IT’S ALL SO IMPORTANT In the Assembly, Frank Bigelow, R-O’Neals, is the Vice Chair and also the he Governmental Organization Day and clearly loves the animals. Vice Chair of the powerful Appropriations committees in the Capitol have ju- Te Speaker, Anthony Rendon, D-Lake- Committee. Bigelow remains active run- T risdiction over bills relating to state wood, is also familiar with the racetrack. ning his family’s cattle ranch and looking government organization, horse racing, His father is a pari-mutuel clerk at Santa out for breeders. gambling, tobacco, public records, emer- Anita, and he has attended several races Assemblywomen Blanca Rubio, gency services, and outdoor advertising. since becoming Speaker. D-Baldwin Park, grew up around horses Te 21 members on the Assembly GO Other key GO members include Senator in Juarez and around Toroughbreds after Committee and 13 in the Senate are key Andy Vidak, a Republican from Hanford her family moved to Southern California. to any new gaming in California and to and the very frst recipient of the Kenneth Her father worked at Santa Anita when she maintaining a level playing feld for exist- L. Maddy Award. Vidak won in a special was growing up and still works there part ing gaming interests. election in 2013 and faced an immedi- time today. Te GO Chair in the Assembly is Adam ate re-election to retain his seat. Despite So many great members on Assembly Gray, a Democrat from Merced. Gray tremendous pressure from the tribes that GO have visited the track at least once, if worked at his grandfather’s dairy supply summer, he refused to vote for an Internet not more. Track veterans include Cecilia business and started as a legislative aide to poker bill that did not include horse racing, Aguiar-Curry, D-Winters; Autum Burke, former Congressman Dennis Cardoza. He therefore not allowing the bill to pass out of D-Inglewood; Mike Gipson, D-Carson; graduated with a B.A. in political science the GO Committee. Reggie Jones-Sawyer, D-Los Angeles; Kev- from UC Santa Barbara and is one of only Senator Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita, is in Kiley, R-Rocklin; Marc Levine, D-Marin two legislators ever awarded the CTBA’s the new Vice Chair of GO and a great sup- County; Evan Low, D-Campbell; Rudy Kenneth L. Maddy Award for Legislative porter of racing. Joining him are Repub- Salas, D-Bakersfeld; and Marie Waldron, Excellence. Adam authored the bill that licans Anthony Cannella from Ceres and R-Escondido. Waldron grew up next to would have provided $60 million annually Ted Gaines from El Dorado Hills. All three Belmont Park and still has her scrapbook to racing in his Internet poker bill and is the have been to the races more than once, and about her favorite horse, Rufan. author of ACA 18, the sports wagering bill. I expect we’ll see them again. Dante Acosta, R-Santa Clarita, has been Senator Bill Dodd, a Democrat from Senator Steven Bradford, D-Gardena, many times, but never as a guest of the Napa, chairs the Senate GO Committee. is a frequent guest at the track and always CTBA. Assembly members Ken Cooley, Dodd graduated from Chico with a BA in quick to come feed carrots to the mare and D-Rancho Cordova; Jim Cooper, D-Elk business management and has owned and foal on Ag Day at the Capitol. He even Grove; and James Gallagher, R-Yuba City, operated one of the largest Culligan Water showed up on Cal Cup Day after he had are looking forward to visiting soon, and franchises in California. Dodd founded the been in a bad car accident earlier in the day. all have been very helpful in the past. Te Wolfe Center, a youth drug and alcohol He knew we had planned for him to pres- CTBA has invited all the GO members rehabilitation center, among his many oth- ent a winning trophy. Impressive. and will continue to reach out to them to er accomplishments. He is a former Napa Senator Anthony Portantino, D-La Can- help them better understand all the aspects County Supervisor, and he has a number of ada Flintridge, does an annual event every of racing. breeders in his district. We are working on year at Santa Anita, and Senator Cathleen I often tease my tribal friends and ask touring a racetrack in the coming months. Galgiani, D-Stockton, was Chair of the them if legislators ever want to pet their Te new President Pro Tempore of the Assembly Ag Committee before moving slot machines or take pictures next to a card Senate is a longtime fan of racing. Senator to the Senate. Both are always very helpful table. We have a laugh, and of course the Toni Atkins, a Democrat from San Diego, on issues regarding racing and breeding. answer is no. It is said that a racehorse is an is a regular, studying the horses in the walk- Other Democrats include Steve Glazer animal that can take thousands of people ing ring before each post at Del Mar. She from Orinda, Jerry Hill from San Mateo, for a ride at the same time. Tey are also always takes time to visit the horses on Ag Ben Hueso from San Diego, and Ricardo incredible ambassadors.

www.ctba.com ❙ May 2018 ❙ CALIFORNIA THOROUGHBRED 1