Ken Smole, President

Ken is a retired insurance industry executive with over thirty years of experience in the healthcare area.   He is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and has resided in the Bay Area since 1972.  Ken and his wife, Jane, have been horse owners since 1985 and they have long been committed to assisting backstretch workers.  Ken has served on the CTHF board since 2007.

Victor Levine, MD, Vice President

Victor was a practicing Emergency Room physician for 38 years at the Riverside County Regional Medical Center.  He is also a trained psychiatrist.  Victor is an avid pilot and is presently a docent at the Los Angeles Zoo.  He has also owned race horses in the past.  Given his background in medicine and his experience in horse ownership, he brings a unique combination of talents and passion to our foundation.  Victor’s wife, Alexandra, is a hematologic oncologist who was formerly the Chief Medical Officer and a professor at the City of Hope.

Angie Carmona – Secretary/Treasurer

Angie Carmona has been serving California Thoroughbred horse racing for over thirty years. Now Deputy Director of the California Thoroughbred Trainers, Angie came to Santa Anita in 1983, and has been an advocate for the interests of the backstretch community ever since.  She was elected to the CTHF board in 2014.  She also serves on the board of the nonprofit Edwin J. Gregson Foundation, dedicated to improving the quality of life for backstretch workers and their family members through education programs such as scholarships, as well as social and recreation programs.  Native Californians, Angie resides in Los Angeles with her daughter Alex.

Damascus Castellanos

Damascus has been a Teamster member for 30 years, including a Business Representative for the past 15 years.  As the labor representative on the CTHF board, Damascus has seen the passion his members have for the racing industry, given many of them come from families steeped in California racing’s history.  His passion has been contagious, and Damascus now brings that passion not only over to the backstretch community, but also as a Commissioner on the California Horse Racing Board. Damascus has a son and a daughter.  He grew up in Pico Rivera, California where he continues to reside.

Rick Gold

Rick is a a retired Silicon Valley entrepreneur, executive and investor.  Co-founder of four high-tech companies, he most recently served as the CEO of CalAmp Corp.  He has extensive experience with board governance, having served on the boards of 20 organizations in the public, private and non-profit sectors.  A Cornell University graduate, he received an MBA from Northeastern University and a PhD in electrical engineering from Stanford University.  He has been a racehorse owner since 2004, and currently serves on the TOC Board of Directors.  He and his wife, Marcia, reside in Coronado.  Rick has been inspired by the dedication and skill of the backstretch workers he has met and appreciates the opportunity to work with the CTHF to help improve their lives.

Thomas R Bell

“Ray” has been involved in the Thoroughbred Industry as a trainer, owner and breeder for most of his life.  He also currently serves as a board member of the California Thoroughbred Trainers (“CTT”).  Ray’s father and grandfather were also heavily involved in the Industry — his grandfather’s participation dating back to when Del Mar originally opened in the late 1930’s.  Ray has seen the benefits the CTHF offers to his employees, and all backstretch workers, and is pleased to be able to represent his fellow stable workers with a seat on the CTHF board.

Josh Rubinstein

Josh is President and Chief Operating Officer of the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.  He serves on several Industry committees and boards including the Equibase Management Committee , the California Stabling and Vanning Committee, and the California Business League.  In addition, he serves as a Director and Secretary of the TRA, and is a board member for SCOTWINC, as well as the recently formed Thoroughbred Safety Coalition.  Josh is a graduate of San Diego State University.  He was born in New York, New York and currently resides in the Mission Hills District of San Diego.

Eric Sindler

Eric has been a fan of horse racing since he first went to Pimlico Racecourse with his father over 30 years ago.  After graduating from law school, he nevertheless wanted to get back into racing and obtained his Master’s Degree from the Arizona Race Track Industry program.  Eric is currently employed by Monarch Content Management, LLC, and is heavily involved in negotiating export and import simulcast agreements for a myriad of racing entities.  Eric also serves as a board member for SCOTWINC, the Stabling and Vanning Committee, the CTBL (Workmen’s Compensation) and the California Marketing Committee.  Like all of our board members, Eric appreciates the work our foundation does on behalf of the backstretch workers.

Millie Yakteen

A native of England, with a bachelors degree from the Royal Agricultural College, Cirenceter, Millie moved to California in 1995 to be an exercise rider at Hollywood Park.  The former amateur jockey worked for Hall of Fame trainers Bobby Frankel, Bod Baffert and Richard Mandella.  In 2003, now married to trainer Tim Yakteen, Millie joined the Santa Anita on-air family as a host and reporter with HRTV.   In 2015, Millie joined a small group in the launch of XBTV, which has become Thoroughbred horse racing’s “go to” platform for morning workouts.  A constant presence in morning backstretch activities over many years has provided Millie with a passion of dedication to both the horses and the workers CTHF services.

ADVISORY BOARD

Dave Naftzger
Wayne Baker