California Horse Racing Board

What California Horse Racing Board does

The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) is a state government regulatory agency established by the California Legislature in 1933, headquartered in Sacramento at 1010 Hurley Way Suite 300. The agency operates as the sole statutory authority over horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering in California, regulating 3 permanent racetracks (Del Mar, Los Alamitos, Santa Anita), approximately 27 simulcast-only wagering facilities, and managing nearly 16,000 occupational licenses across 12 license classes covering trainers, jockeys, owners, veterinarians, and stable workers. CHRB's core functions include licensing administration, rule enforcement (via a sworn peace officer Enforcement Division), pari-mutuel wagering oversight, track safety standard-setting, veterinary practices oversight, and continuing education programs for industry participants.

Operationally, CHRB is governed by 7 commissioners appointed to four-year terms by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate, and is organizationally housed under the Business and Consumer Services Agency (BCSA) as of 2026 (previously under the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency since 2013). The agency coordinates with the federal Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA) for thoroughbred racing while retaining primary jurisdiction over all other breeds. CHRB employs 11-50 staff and is funded through the California state budget rather than direct revenue generation; the state collects pari-mutuel wagering taxes and licensing fees ranging from $20 (stableworker renewal) to $300 (organizations). Key partnerships include UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine for continuing education, CARMA for racehorse aftercare, and licensing of multiple Advance Deposit Wagering platforms (TVG, TwinSpires, Watch and Wager, DraftKings Racing) that distribute California racing content nationally. Post-2019, following a crisis of racehorse deaths at Santa Anita Park, CHRB implemented unprecedented safety reforms and now publishes public equine fatality data.

Name

California Horse Racing Board

Legal name

California Horse Racing Board

Website

https://chrb.ca.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The California Horse Racing Board is a California state government regulatory agency, established in 1933, that licenses approximately 16,000 horse racing industry participants, enforces racing rules, and oversees pari-mutuel wagering across three permanent racetracks and 27 simulcast facilities in California.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Horse Racing Regulatory Services

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615), Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)

akta.pro primary industry

Racing Associations, Governance & Integrity Services (MPAEADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Jockeys, Drivers & Officials (Licensing/Representation) (MPAEADAK), Racetrack & Race Meeting Operations (MPAEADAA), Training, Stables & Equine Services (MPAEADAI), Veterinary Regulatory Authorities (Licensing, Compliance & Enforcement) (HLAMAJAC)

Keywords

• Horse racing regulation
• Pari-mutuel wagering oversight
• Occupational licensing services
• Racetrack safety enforcement
• Equine welfare standards

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Regulatory Oversight and Licensing: CHRB generates no revenue directly; it operates as a state government agency funded through the California state budget. Revenue to the state is generated through pari-mutuel wagering taxation and licensing fees from industry participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The California Horse Racing Board is a state government regulatory agency that issues occupational licenses to approximately 16,000 horse racing industry participants, enforces racing rules and drug regulations through a sworn peace-officer Enforcement Division, regulates pari-mutuel wagering and racetrack safety across three permanent racetracks and 27 simulcast facilities, processes complaints through Stewards and administrative hearings, and administers continuing education for trainers.

Product overview

The California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) is a state regulatory agency, not a commercial product company. It does not offer a unified product platform or modules. Instead, CHRB provides regulatory services including occupational licensing for horse racing participants, enforcement of racing rules, racetrack regulation, complaint processing, horse safety standards, and continuing education programs. These services are administered through its website as informational and administrative resources rather than as commercial software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Occupational Licensing Services Issuance and management of approximately 16,000 occupational licenses for individuals involved in horse racing, including owners, authorized agents, trainers, assistant trainers, jockeys, apprentice jockeys, jockey agents, exercise riders, veterinarians, racing officials, directors and executives, stableworkers/grooms, and organizations. Available to horse racing professionals who must hold a CHRB license to work at any licensed California racetrack.
• Enforcement and Compliance Investigation of violations of CHRB Rules and Regulations, including drug/medication abuse, racing rule violations, safety hazards, assault, battery, and fraud at California tracks. Available to licensees, racetrack operators, and the wagering public via the enforcement hotline (1-800-805-7223) and [email protected].
• Racetrack Regulation and Pari-Mutuel Wagering Oversight Regulatory oversight of horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the three permanent California racetracks (Del Mar, Los Alamitos, Santa Anita), the San Luis Rey Downs training center, sanctioned fair meets, and approximately 27 simulcast-only wagering facilities, including coordination with federal HISA rules for thoroughbred racing. Available to racetrack operators and wagering platforms.
• Complaint Processing and Stewards Hearings Administrative hearings and complaint processing conducted by the Board of Stewards for CHRB rule violations, including stewards rulings, board decisions, and statements of decision. Available to licensees, complainants, and the public.
• Horse Safety and Welfare Regulation Development and enforcement of track safety standards and regulations covering the health and welfare of equine and human racing participants, including a public CHRB Vet List, Rule 1843 (2) & (3), and equine fatality tracking. Available to licensed racetracks, trainers, veterinarians, and the public.
• Continuing Education Programs Online modules and webinars for trainers and assistant trainers on equine health topics including fractures, jockey safety, and track surfaces. Available to licensed trainers and assistant trainers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Dramatic decrease in racehorse deaths in California following 2019 safety reforms
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Federal law signed in 2020 making federal authorities responsible for drafting and enforcing uniform safety and integrity rules in thoroughbred racing in the United States. CHRB works closely with HISA in the application and enforcement of rules covering thoroughbreds, while continuing to apply CHRB rules to all other breeds.
• CARMA (California Retirement of Racehorses)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCARMA (California Retirement of Racehorses) is referenced as a key partner for aftercare of retired racehorses. CHRB links to CARMA from its veterinary and safety pages and supports racehorse retirement through licensing requirements for CARMA contributions.
• UC Davis School of Veterinary MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHRB partners with UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine for veterinary expertise and continuing education resources for the horse racing industry.
• Business and Consumer Services Agency (BCSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2026, under Governor Gavin Newsom's reorganization, CHRB shifted to the newly formed Business and Consumer Services Agency. Previously (since 2013) the agency was part of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.
• TVG (ODS Technologies, L.P.)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdvance Deposit Wagering platform headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon. TVG is one of the primary platforms allowing wagering on California horse racing events, serving customers nationwide.
• Watch and Wager (WatchandWager.com, LLC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAdvance Deposit Wagering platform headquartered in Larkspur, California. Watch and Wager is a California-based ADW platform licensed to accept wagers on California horse racing.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• New York State Gaming Commission: State-level regulator with authority over horse racing, pari-mutuel wagering, and casino gaming in New York. Directly comparable to CHRB as a multi-faceted state racing and wagering authority operating in a major racing jurisdiction.
• New Jersey Racing Commission: Regulates horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering in New Jersey. Comparable to CHRB in licensing, track oversight, and enforcement functions, though operating in a smaller racing jurisdiction.
• Kentucky Horse Racing Commission: Kentucky's state regulator of thoroughbred, standardbred, and quarter horse racing. Closely comparable to CHRB in scope of occupational licensing, track safety oversight, and pari-mutuel regulation.
• Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission: Pennsylvania's state regulator of horse racing across thoroughbred and standardbred breeds. Directly comparable to CHRB in licensing, enforcement, and track safety oversight responsibilities.
• Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering: State-level regulator of pari-mutuel wagering and horse racing in Florida. Comparable in functions including occupational licensing, track oversight, and pari-mutuel enforcement in a state with multiple breeds and racetrack types.
• Maryland Racing Commission: Maryland's state regulator of thoroughbred and standardbred racing. Comparable to CHRB in overseeing multiple tracks, licensing participants, and enforcing racing safety and integrity standards.

Broad incumbents

• The Jockey Club: Thoroughbred breed registry and industry standards organization referenced by CHRB as an educational partner. Comparable as a non-governmental racing integrity and registration body that complements state regulators.
• Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA): Federal-level authority enforcing uniform safety and integrity rules across U.S. thoroughbred racing. Comparable as a higher-tier regulatory counterpart that partners with and partially overlaps CHRB's authority on the thoroughbred side.

Emerging players

• CARMA (California Retirement of Racehorses): California-based racehorse aftercare nonprofit formally partnered with CHRB through licensing requirements. Comparable as a regulatory-adjacent organization that operates within CHRB's framework to address equine welfare.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cachrb
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/calchrb
• Facebookfacebook.com/cachrb
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-horse-racing-board

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about California Horse Racing Board