Peter Stern, an executive with a San Francisco-based mobile workforce company, was appointed to the California Horse Racing Board by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday, according to a statement from the governor’s office.
Stern’s appointment fills a vacant role on the seven-person racing board following the resignation of John Carvelli who was appointed in August and relinquished his position in February.
At the racing board’s most recent meeting in April, five of the six remaining commissioners were in attendance. The board voted 3-2 against approving a proposed late summer race meeting at the Humboldt county fair in the far north of the state, but needed four votes for an official decision.
The topic is likely to be part of the board’s next meeting, on May 15, although the agenda for that meeting has yet to be published. The Humboldt meeting is opposed by the Thoroughbred Owners of California who do not want to divert purse money generated from simulcasting and account wagering from the Del Mar summer meeting.
Stern has a background in gaming, having served as a commissioner with the California State Lottery Commission from 2019 to 2022.
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