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Hudnut, Castellanos Re-Appointed to CHRB by Governor

Updated: January 7, 2026 at 10:53 am

Thomas Hudnut and Damascus Castellanos have been re-appointed to the California Horse Racing Board by California Governor Gavin Newsom, according to a CHRB report on Wednesday.

Hudnut of Beverly Hills has served on the CHRB since 2021. Hudnut was President and Chief Executive Officer at Harvard-Westlake School from 1987 to 2013. He was Headmaster at The Branston School from 1982 to 1987. Hudnut earned a Master of Arts degree in International Relations and Diplomatic History from Tufts University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics from Princeton University.

Castellanos of Pico Rivera has served since 2020. Castellanos has been a Secretary-Treasurer and Principal Officer at Teamsters Union Local 495 since 2021 where he was a Business Representative from 2005 to 2021. He was a Business Representative at Teamsters Union Local 630 from 2001 to 2012. Castellanos is a Member of the California Thoroughbred Horseman's Foundation.

Both positions require Senate confirmation.