Stewards at Golden Gate Fields have scheduled a Feb. 10 hearing to consider revoking the license of owner/trainer Ari Herbertson, who last year pled no contest to assault with a deadly weapon in connection with a sexual assault allegation and was sentenced to a year in jail.
The California Horse Racing Board filed a complaint for violation of multiple state rules related to denying or revoking of a license, including being convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment in a California state prison or a federal prison; committing an act involving moral turpitude, or intemperate acts which have exposed others to danger; and, for conduct detrimental to racing.
According to a Jan. 13 CHRB complaint, a female licensee reported to Berkeley Police she had been sexually assaulted Jan. 12, 2020, after leaving Golden Gate with trainer Herbertson and an exercise rider in Herbertson's truck. The assault was denied by both men, the complaint said. Herbertson was arrested after saliva tests from both men and the victim produced a DNA match for Herbertson, according to the CHRB complaint.
According to a story in December in Paulick Report, a legal representative for Herbertson indicated the trainer will receive credit for time served and is anticipated to be released from prison in June 2022.
The CHRB website currently lists Herbertson's owner's license as "in compliance" and set to expire Dec. 31, 2022.
