CA. Equestrian Facilities Reeling from CAFO Designation

In December 2020, the 22nd District Agricultural Association (DAA) abruptly canceled all 2021 shows and boarding arrangements. Furthermore, they gave boarders and trainers 90 days to find other boarding arrangements. There was no warning given to any in the equestrian community and rumors were flying as to why this happened. The 22nd DAA oversees the state-owned Del Mar Fairgrounds, home of the Del Mar National Horse Show and San Diego County Fair, the Del Mar Racetrack built in 1936, as well as other events. The DAA also oversees the Horsepark. Unlike most other government agencies, the 22nd District Agricultural Association is funded almost entirely by revenue from the events held there. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the suspension of all mass gatherings this year, it also switched off about 90 percent of the annual revenue for the fairgrounds. Del Mar Thoroughbred Club was able to hold their summer and fall meets without spectators, and the Horsepark had exhibitor-only shows that generated about $1.3 million dollars, but that was a drop in the bucket...More significant to the Horsepark’s closure is a requirement by the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board that the Fairgrounds curtail groundwater pollution that can result from boarding, training and showing horses there. With the pandemic shutting down much of the fairground activities, spectator events such as attendance at the horse racing meets, concerts, the county fair, Del Mar National Horse Show, and livestock auctions, there is no revenue to improve the Horsepark property to comply with the requirements, 22nd DAA Board President Richard Valdez said in an email...When we think of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, or CAFO’s, we don’t usually think of horse boarding facilities, but rather finishing yards for cattle, and poultry and swine farms. It may surprise you that according to California regulations some of the largest CAFO’s are racetracks. So how does a horse boarding facility qualify as a CAFO? First, it must be defined as an animal feeding operation or AFO based on the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulations. The definition of an AFO is an operation where animals have been, or will be stabled or confined and fed or maintained for a total of 45 days or more in any 12-month period...MORE