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AB 280
CONSENT
Bill No:
Author:
Amended:
Vote:
AB 280
Silva (R)
3/14/11 in Assembly
21
SENATE GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION COMM: 13-0, 06/28/11
AYES: Wright, Anderson, Berryhill, Calderon, Cannella, Corbett, De León,
Evans, Hernandez, Padilla, Strickland, Wyland, Yee
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 78-0, 05/19/11 (Consent) - See last page for vote
SUBJECT:
Horse racing: California-bred horses and parimutuel tickets
SOURCE:
Los Alamitos Race Course
DIGEST: This bill modifies the definition of a California-bred
standardbred horse and revises an existing provision of Horse Racing Law
pertaining to the base purse in specified racing events. Specifically, this bill:
(1) revises the definition of a California-bred standardbred horse by deleting
the requirement that the standardbred foal be conceived in California, in
order to qualify for the California Standardbred Sires Stakes Program
(CSSSP), (2) deletes the requirement that base purses for each set of races be
equal for all two-year-old and three-year-old races regardless of sex and gait,
including the exception requiring a minimum base purse of 75 percent of the
original base purse if divisions are raced, and instead simply requires that all
base purses for each set of races conducted during any given year at any race
meeting be determined by the California Standardbred Sires Stakes
Committee (CSSSC), and (3) makes a technical, non-substantive change to a
provision relating to altering or counterfeiting, or attempting to alter or
counterfeit, any parimutuel ticket.
CONTINUED
AB 280
Page 2
ANALYSIS: Existing law provides that the California Horse Racing
Board (CHRB) is responsible for adopting rules and regulations for the
protection of the public and the control of horse racing and parimutuel
wagering, as well as enforcing all laws, rules, and regulations dealing with
horse racing and parimutuel wagering.
Existing law defines a “California-bred standardbred horse” as a
standardbred foal conceived in California by a stallion registered with the
CSSSP. Additionally, existing law establishes a CSSSP for standardbred
horses, including harness horses, bred in this state.
Existing law requires that CSSP races be scheduled for 2-year-old and 3year-old trotters and 2-year-old and 3-year-old pacers at the discretion of the
CSSSC, except as specified.
Existing law requires that base purses for each set of races, as defined,
conducted during any given year at any race meeting be determined by the
committee and requires that those purses be equal for all 2-year-old and 3year-old races regardless of sex and gait, except that, if divisions are raced,
the base purse for each division shall be no less than 75 percent of the
original base purse and, if elimination heats are raced, the base purse shall be
determined by the CSSSC.
Existing law prohibits any person from altering or counterfeiting, or
attempting to alter or counterfeit, any parimutuel ticket.
This bill modifies the definition of a California-bred standardbred horse and
revises an existing provision of Horse Racing Law pertaining to the base
purse in specified racing events. Specifically, this bill:
1. Revises the definition of a California-bred standardbred horse by deleting
the requirement that the standardbred foal be conceived in California, in
order to qualify for CSSSP.
2. Deletes the requirement that base purses for each set of races be equal for
all two-year-old and three-year-old races regardless of sex and gait,
including the exception requiring a minimum base purse of 75 percent of
the original base purse if divisions are raced, and instead simply requires
that all base purses for each set of races conducted during any given year
at any race meeting be determined by the CSSSC.
CONTINUED
AB 280
Page 3
3. Makes a technical, non-substantive change to a provision relating to
altering or counterfeiting, or attempting to alter or counterfeit, any
parimutuel ticket.
Prior Legislation
AB 1578 (Governmental Organization Committee), Chapter 550, Statutes of
2009, among other things, required 15 percent of the funds remaining after
specified deductions from conventional and exotic parimutuel wagering
pools resulting from thoroughbred wagers made in California to be used for
the payment of bonuses to California-bred horses in maiden allowance races
in California.
AB 2538 (Strickland), Chapter 278, Statutes of 2004, changed the definition
of a California standardbred horse for these purposes to a standardbred foal
conceived in California by a stallion registered with the California
Standardbred Sire Stakes Program, deleting the requirements in existing law
that the mare drop the horse in California after the conception.
SB 738 (Karnette), Chapter 24, Statutes of 2003, defined a “California bred
standardbred horse” as a standardbred foal dropped by a mare in California
after being conceived in California by a stallion registered with CSSSP.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No
SUPPORT: (Verified 6/29/11)
Los Alamitos Race Course (source)
California Harness Horsemen’s Association
Standard Sires Stakes Program
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT: Supporters state that the California
Legislature created CSSSC in 1977 to “encourage agriculture and the
breeding of horses in California.” In short, the CSSSC’s purpose is to
provide financial incentives for the breeding and development of
standardbred racehorses. In 2010, over $800,000 was distributed in purse
awards to owners, trainers, drivers, breeders and sire owners of horses
placing first through fifth in all stakes races.
Supporters claim that a change to the current definition of a Cal-bred
standardbred is necessary due to the decline in the number of standardbred
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AB 280
Page 4
sires in California. The decline of the harness racing industry has resulted in
fewer stallions standing in California for breeding purposes.
Supporters note that the CSSSP was established before artificial
insemination was permitted for breeding standardbred horses in California.
Now that artificial insemination is allowed it has had far-reaching effects
relative to the ability to breed a stallion to a larger number of mares and the
strengthening of the speed and power of the modern standardbred horse.
Supporters state that this bill is intended to allow the CSSSP to adjust to
economic and industry changes, by permitting a foal which is the product of
artificial insemination, to be eligible for the Sire Stakes series races, purses
and awards even if the standardbred foal was not conceived in California.
Additionally, this bill would make necessary changes to the statutes
governing the base purse in order to grant the Sire Stakes Committee more
flexibility.
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 78-0, 05/19/11 (Consent)
AYES: Achadjian, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Beall, Bill Berryhill, Block,
Blumenfield, Bonilla, Bradford, Brownley, Buchanan, Butler, Charles
Calderon, Campos, Carter, Cedillo, Chesbro, Conway, Cook, Davis,
Dickinson, Donnelly, Eng, Feuer, Fletcher, Fong, Fuentes, Furutani, Beth
Gaines, Galgiani, Garrick, Gatto, Gordon, Grove, Hagman, Halderman,
Hall, Harkey, Hayashi, Roger Hernández, Hill, Huber, Hueso, Huffman,
Jeffries, Jones, Knight, Lara, Logue, Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mansoor,
Mendoza, Miller, Mitchell, Monning, Morrell, Nestande, Nielsen, Norby,
Olsen, Pan, Perea, V. Manuel Pérez, Portantino, Silva, Skinner, Smyth,
Solorio, Swanson, Torres, Valadao, Wagner, Wieckowski, Williams,
Yamada, John A. Pérez
NO VOTE RECORDED: Alejo, Gorell
PQ:nl 6/29/11 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:
SEE ABOVE
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