C. Scott Chaney

C. Scott Chaney

Executive Director

Director Chaney has deep equestrian roots, dating back to his early years growing up in Maryland, where his parents owned a few horses running at the Maryland tracks. After high school, Mr. Chaney remained on the east coast and attended Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, where graduated cum laude. He went on to law school, graduated with honors from the University of Southern California School of Law, and was admitted to the State Bar of California in 1997, where he remains a member.

During his summer breaks, Chaney groomed horses and found his passion for horses and animal welfare. After graduating from law school, Director Chaney became an Assistant Trainer for a well-respected stable and had the opportunity to travel with country with some of the greatest horses. In 2005, Director Chaney was selected as a steward in California. He began his career on the Southern California thoroughbred circuit, and he also served as a steward at Los Alamitos, overseeing quarter horse meets.

CHRB commissioners and executives recognized Chaney’s talents early on and they began assigning him to complicated legal cases, research, and analysis of matters beyond the normal duties of stewards. In 2010, he was selected to serve as a Hearing Officer for the CHRB.

After a series of racing fatalities at Santa Anita Race Track in 2019, the California Horse Racing Board underwent sweeping changes aimed at ensuring the safety of equine athletes and their riders. Due to his extensive experience, keen awareness of the issues at hand, and his long-standing focus on safety and animal welfare, Chaney was appointed as the Executive Director of the California Horse Racing Board on April 16, 2020.

Since his appointment, the California Horse Racing Board has implemented an unprecedented number of regulations dealing with improved training methods, veterinary practices, and racetrack operations. These changes have resulted in a dramatic decrease in fatalities and made California racing a model for the rest of country.

Away from work, Director Chaney is an accomplished athlete, having competed in marathons and triathlons across the globe, including the Los Angeles Marathon, Boston Marathon, United States National Championships and the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.