BILL ANALYSIS Ó
Bill No: AB
280
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Roderick D. Wright, Chair
2011-2012 Regular Session
Staff Analysis
AB 280 Author: Silva
As Amended: March 14, 2011
Hearing Date: June 28, 2011
Consultant: Art Terzakis
SUBJECT
Horse Racing
DESCRIPTION
AB 280 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 measure:
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% 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).
3. Also, makes a technical, non-substantive change to
a provision relating to altering or counterfeiting, or
attempting to alter or counterfeit, any parimutuel
AB 280 (Silva) continued
Page 2
ticket.
EXISTING LAW
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. (Business &
Professions Code Section 19406)
Existing law requires that CSSP races be scheduled for
2-year-old and 3-year-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
3-year-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% of the original base purse and,
if elimination heats are raced, the base purse shall be
determined by the CSSSC. (Business & Professions Code
Section 19619)
Existing law prohibits any person from altering or
counterfeiting, or attempting to alter or counterfeit, any
parimutuel ticket. (Business & Professions Code Section
19666)
BACKGROUND
Purpose of AB 280 : The sponsor of this measure, Los
Alamitos Race Course, points out that the California
Legislature created the California Standardbred Sires
Stakes Committee (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
AB 280 (Silva) continued
Page 3
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.
The sponsor claims that a change to the current definition
of a Cal-bred standardbred is necessary due to the decline
in the number of standardbred sires in California. The
decline of the harness racing industry has resulted in
fewer stallions standing in California for breeding
purposes.
The sponsor notes 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.
The sponsor states that AB 280 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, AB 280 would
make necessary changes to the statutes governing the base
purse in order to grant the Sire Stakes Committee more
flexibility.
PRIOR/RELATED LEGISLATION
AB 1578 (Governmental Organization Committee) Chapter 550,
Statutes of 2009. Among other things, required 15% 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
AB 280 (Silva) continued
Page 4
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 the California
Standardbred Sires Stakes Program (CSSSP).
SUPPORT: As of June 24, 2011:
Los Alamitos Race Course (sponsor)
California Harness Horsemen's Association
Standard Sires Stakes Program
OPPOSE: None on file as of June 24, 2011.
FISCAL COMMITTEE: No.
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