Bo Derek appointed to Calif. horse racing board

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California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has named Bo Derek to a state commission overseeing horse racing.

The 51-year-old actress was appointed Tuesday to the California Horse Racing Board. The position requires confirmation by the state Senate and pays $100 per diem.

Derek is an animal rights activist and horse lover who has lobbied Congress for five years to ban the slaughter of horses in the U.S. She also owns a pet care products company called Bless the Beasts.

Derek is the author of the book "Riding Lessons: Everything That Matters in Life I Learned from Horses."