BILL NUMBER: ACR 161	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JULY 3, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members  Conway  
  and Logue   Logue,   Hall,
  and Perea 
    (  Coauthors:   Assembly Members  
Bigelow,   Campos,   Chesbro,   Conway,
  Gray,   Jones,   Jones-Sawyer, 
 Levine,   Linder,   Maienschein,  
Medina,   Mullin,   Quirk-Silva,   V.
Manuel Pérez,   and Waldron   ) 

                        JUNE 11, 2014

   Relative to  horse racing.   California
Chrome. 



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 161, as amended,  Conway   Logue  .
 Horse racing: California Chrome.   California
Chrome: thoroughbred horse racing.  
   This measure would recognize the outstanding performance of
California Chrome during his remarkable run for thoroughbred horse
racing's Triple Crown, and, in particular, for his tremendous
victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, would
recognize and congratulate the many Californians who are part of the
ownership group, breeding and training cadre, and other essential
elements that led to his success, and would recognize the storied
history of thoroughbred horse racing in California, the Cal-bred
Program, and its contributions to job creation and the state's
economy.  
   This measure would recognize the performance of California Chrome
during his run for horse racing's Triple Crown, including his
victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, would
recognize and congratulate the many Californians who are part of his
ownership group, breeding and training cadre, and other essential
elements that led to the success of California Chrome, and would
recognize the history of horse racing in California and its
contributions to job creation and the state's economy. 
   Fiscal committee: no.



    WHEREAS, California has a long and proud thoroughbred racing
history, dating back some 160 years. In particular, the Central
Valley has been the birthplace of champions since the 1880s.
California Chrome, born and raised at Harris Farms in Coalinga,
continues that tradition and has become an outstanding representative
of his namesake state; and 
    WHEREAS, California horse racing today accounts for an
estimated 50,000 jobs, 148,000 thoroughbred horses, and a $2.5
billion impact on the state's economy. Combining athleticism, grace,
beauty, and speed, this sport reaches millions of fans worldwide and
carries priceless positive impressions of what California has to
offer; and 
    WHEREAS, The Kentucky Derby is the world's most famous horse
race and part of the celebrated Triple Crown of thoroughbred horse
racing for three-year-old horses only. Along with the Preakness and
Belmont Stakes, these three classics are the races that horse owners,
breeders, trainers, and jockeys all dream of winning; and 
    WHEREAS, This spring, California Chrome won the 140th
Kentucky Derby and 139th Preakness Stakes, the first time a
California-bred colt swept the first two legs of the Triple Crown.
Both victories ended lengthy droughts for the state's racing
industry. California Chrome became the fourth California-born Derby
winner and first since 1962 and California's fifth Preakness winner
and first since 1986; and 
    WHEREAS, It takes a very special horse to reach national
prominence by winning multiple races at multiple tracks across the
country. In his career so far, California Chrome has won races at
California's Hollywood Park, Del Mar, and Santa Anita Park, in
addition to Kentucky's Churchill Downs and Maryland's Pimlico Race
Course at distances from 41/2 furlongs to 11/4 miles; and 
    WHEREAS, Among California Chrome's eight career victories
there was a six-stakes win streak featuring such milestones as the
King Glorious Stakes, the final stakes event held at Hollywood Park,
and the $1 million Santa Anita Derby as well as the Kentucky Derby
and the Preakness Stakes; and 
    WHEREAS, California Chrome, a chestnut-colored horse as
golden as his home state, transcended thoroughbred horse racing to
become an international phenomenon not just with his brilliant speed
and winning ways, but due to his heart-warming story and the people
who make up his team; and 
    WHEREAS, California is a state where people are unafraid to
dream big and that's in part what inspired four fans to cross over
into horse ownership and become first-time breeders. An inspiration
to the "little guys" everywhere, Perry and Denise Martin of Yuba City
and Steve and Carolyn Coburn of Topaz Lake, Nevada, became partners
in a mare, Love the Chase, who they bought from a syndicate for
$8,000. After someone scoffed at their perceived foolishness, the
couples named their new venture "Dumb Ass Partners (D.A.P.) Racing";
and 
    WHEREAS, The partners sent their lone mare to Harris Farms to
be bred and chose the stallion Lucky Pulpit, owned by Mr. and Mrs.
Larry Williams. California Chrome is Love the Chase's first foal.
Before the colt was born, Steve Coburn vividly dreamed about the big
chestnut colt with four white legs and distinctive blaze and felt
sure the newborn was destined for greatness; and 
    WHEREAS, After a difficult birth, the mare was nursed back to
health by the excellent and attentive veterinary staff at Harris
Farms. This hands-on care also imprinted a love for people on her
intelligent and precocious son nicknamed "Junior." Developing his
mind and body, California Chrome spent his first two years at Harris
Farms, where he was groomed to be a racehorse; and 
    WHEREAS, When it came time to start racing, the partners sent
their only racehorse to trainer Art Sherman with the proclamation
that this was "his Derby horse" and a suggested road map of races to
qualify. Sherman's prior Derby experience was as the exercise rider
for California-bred 1955 Kentucky Derby winner Swaps. Coincidentally,
California Chrome is Swaps' great-great-g   reat-great
grandson; and 
    WHEREAS, California Chrome, as he prepared for the Triple
Crown trail, gained his foundation and experience in the lucrative
Golden State Series for Cal-bred horses, confirming the value and
significance of the state's breeding program; and 
    WHEREAS, Art Sherman, at 77 years of age, became the oldest
trainer to win the Kentucky Derby. California Chrome also became the
first Derby and Preakness winner trained at Los Alamitos Race Course
in Cypress, California; and 
    WHEREAS, Success is the result of teamwork and California
Chrome's campaign is no exception. Jockey Victor Espinoza guided the
colt to those six straight stakes wins. Assistant trainer Alan
Sherman served as his father's right-hand man and accompanied their
Triple Crown candidate for six weeks on the road; and 
   WHEREAS, Groom Raul Rodriguez became California Chrome's
constant companion, attending to his every need. Exercise rider
Willie Delgado made sure the colt paid attention to his morning
lessons; and 
    WHEREAS, California Chrome's Triple Crown bid fell short when
he injured a hoof at the start of the 146th Belmont Stakes, yet
valiantly finished tied for fourth only 13/4 lengths from victory.
That loss did not diminish his amazing accomplishments; and 
    WHEREAS, In any sport, it takes an extraordinary athlete to
become a household name. California Chrome joined a short list of
such equine superstars as Seabiscuit and Secretariat with cross-over
appeal and the ability to make new fans as evidenced by his thousands
of "Chromies"; and 
    WHEREAS, California Chrome became, as Art Sherman said, a
"California rock star" and the latest example that California dreams
can come true; and 
    WHEREAS, California Chrome's grit, determination, and heart
carried him far beyond this state; it made California Chrome "America'
s horse"; now, therefore, be it 
    Resolved, by the Assembly of the State of California, the
Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the
outstanding performance of California Chrome during his remarkable
run for thoroughbred horse racing's Triple Crown, and, in particular,
for his tremendous victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness
Stakes; and be it further 
    Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes and congratulates
the many Californians who are part of the ownership group, breeding
and training cadre, and other essential elements that led to the
success of California Chrome; and be it further 
    Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes the storied history
of thoroughbred horse racing in California, the Cal-bred Program,
and its important contributions to job creation and the state's
economy that result from a vibrant California thoroughbred horse
racing industry; and be it further 
    Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit
copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
 
   WHEREAS, Few California-bred horses may claim to winning any one
of the Triple Crown races - the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes,
and the Belmont Stakes - as 1,800 foals are born in California
compared to 20,000 foals in Kentucky; and  
   WHEREAS, Four "California-bred" horses, including a horse named
California Chrome, may boast a Kentucky Derby win, and no California
horse has won the Triple Crown; and  
   WHEREAS, California Chrome's upbringing is a story that embodies
the very best of California's horse racing traditions and landscape
as he was foaled in the horse breeding division of Harris Ranch, the
state's largest beef producer; and  
   WHEREAS, California Chrome's mother, Love the Chase, was an
unfortunate racing filly purchased by Steve Coburn of Topaz Lake,
Nevada and Perry Martin of Yuba City, who together own Martin Testing
Laboratories located at the McClellan Business Park in Sacramento;
and  
   WHEREAS, Mr. Coburn and Mr. Martin purchased Love the Chase
outright for a paltry sum of $8,000, a transaction that prompted
someone to say that "only a fool would buy Love the Chase," and, as
such, Mr. Coburn and Mr. Perry formed a company aptly named Dumb Ass
Partners, or DAP; and  
   WHEREAS, DAP retired Love the Chase in 2009, bred her with the
equally unimpressive Lucky Pulpit, and together the two horses sired
California Chrome, who was born in 2011 with four white stockings and
a white stripe down his face, features that horse aficionados call
"chrome"; and  
   WHEREAS, California Chrome bears many unique characteristics,
including him appearing to deliberately stop and pose for cameras as
he hears them clicking while walking in the stable area, which
prompted his exercise rider, Willie Delgado, to give him an
additional nickname, "Vogue"; and  
   WHEREAS, Another unusual characteristic is that California Chrome
refuses to walk forward out of horse vans when the transport vehicle
is designed for a forward exit, preferring to back out instead; and
 
   WHEREAS, As a two-year-old, California Chrome raced several times
at Los Angeles' Hollywood Park, San Diego's Del Mar Racetrack, and
Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, where he won some races and finished
sixth in others; and  
   WHEREAS, Jockey Victor Espinoza and California Chrome had been
unstoppable together, with a six-race winning streak that included
the Golden State Juvenile Stakes, California Cup Derby, the San
Felipe Stakes, and the Santa Anita Derby; and  
   WHEREAS, The pair dazzled fans during this year's Kentucky Derby
and Preakness Stakes, where California Chrome won by 1 3/4 lengths
and 1 1/2 lengths, respectively; and  
   WHEREAS, California Chrome gained nationwide appeal, but the core
of his fan base was centered in the Central Valley of California,
where the Sacramento television market ranked sixth in the nation for
television viewership for the Preakness Stakes, and third in the
nation for the Belmont Stakes; and  
   WHEREAS, Local followers of California Chrome in the Central
Valley, also called "Chromies," liked that purple was a color on the
horse's racing silks, similar to the team colors of the Sacramento
Kings; and  
   WHEREAS, Eleven horses entered the Belmont Stakes, and California
Chrome drew post position number two, the same post position of
former Triple Crown winner Secretariat in the 1973 Belmont; and
 
   WHEREAS, Out of the gates, California Chrome was stepped on by the
horse next to him, tearing off a "chunk" of his hoof, yet despite
this most unfortunate occurrence, California Chrome finished in a
dead heat for fourth with Wicked Strong; and  
   WHEREAS, As a result of his unique pedigree and remarkable racing
accomplishments, California Chrome has been dubbed "America's Horse,"
has earned over $3.4 million in earnings, and has tremendously
benefited the state's $34 billion horse racing industry; now,
therefore be it  
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the outstanding
performance of California Chrome during his remarkable run for horse
racing's Triple Crown, and, in particular, for his tremendous
victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes; and be it
further 
    
   Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes and congratulates the
many Californians who are part of the ownership group, breeding and
training cadre, and other essential elements that led to the success
of California Chrome; and be it further 
    
   Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes the storied history of
horse racing in California, and horse racing's important
contributions to job creation and the state's economy that result
from a vibrant California horse racing industry; and be it further

    
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit a copy of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.