BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 897 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 4, 2011 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Felipe Fuentes, Chair AB 897 (Hall) - As Introduced: February 17, 2011 Policy Committee: Governmental Organization Vote: 15 - 0 Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: No Reimbursable: SUMMARY This bill authorizes the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) to permit a California quarter horse racing association to accept wagers on the full card of races conducted by other racing associations on the date of the Texas Classic Futurity and Remington Park Futurity. FISCAL EFFECT Potential increase in revenue available to fund the CHRB and the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory at the University of California, Davis due to increased wagering opportunities. COMMENTS 1)Rationale . This bill will allow the quarter horse racing association in California to import all of the races conducted on the day of the Texas Classic Futurity and the Remington Park Futurity irrespective of the eight-race day limit. The author intends for this bill to give the California quarter horse racing industry a marketing tool to increase on-track and off-track attendance on this specific day. As a result of the increased attendance, the author hopes this bill will provide the industry with a mechanism to increase track commissions, purses, and breeder's awards. 2)Quarter horse racing . Quarter horse racing in California is held exclusively at Los Alamitos racetrack. Unlike thoroughbreds, which make up most professional racing and often race longer distances, quarter horses are bred to sprint AB 897 Page 2 short distances ranging from 220 to 870 yards. The Los Alamitos meet operates all year long with the 2011 meet running from January 1, 2011 until December 18, 2011. 3)Related Legislation . AB 2201 (Coto; Chapter 253, Statutes of 2010) authorized CHRB to permit a California harness racing association to accept wagers on the full card of races conducted by another racing association on the date of the "Cane Pace." AB 3074 (Governmental Organization Committee; Chapter 510, Statutes of 2008) allows a harness racing association in California to import all of the races conducted on Kentucky Futurity day. Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916) 319-2081