DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) - The California Horse Racing Board denied a license to Oak Tree Racing Association to run its fall meet at Santa Anita because of concerns about the track surface.

The race has been held there for 41 years.

Horse owners, trainers and an expert on synthetic racing surfaces told the board at its meeting Thursday at Del Mar that they oppose having the fall meet at the Arcadia, Calif., track because of safety concerns about the synthetic surface.

The owners and trainers say they prefer running at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, which has a different brand of synthetic surface.

CHRB chairman Keith Brackpool told Oak Tree officials that he couldn't vote to approve the meet, which was set to open Sept. 29. He said that may change if Oak Tree reaches an agreement with owners and trainers.

Sherwood Chillingworth, executive vice president of Oak Tree, says he's moving forward with arrangements to run at Hollywood Park, but he's not ruling out the possibility that the board could change its mind.

Hollywood Park president Jack Liebau says his track is ready to accommodate Oak Tree.

The Thoroughbred Owners of California's approval is needed since the group must enter into an agreement with Oak Tree before the meet can take place. TOC president Arnold Zetcher says he's concerned that there's not enough time to reach such an agreement.

Michael Peterson, an engineering professor and expert on synthetic racing surfaces, presented his findings of a track inspection he conducted last week after being hired by the racing board.

Peterson said the Santa Anita surface had a lack of consistency and evenness of the track's base, plush a number of rocks in the surface.