BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1786
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Date of Hearing: April 6, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Adam Gray, Chair
AB 1786
(Cooley) - As Introduced February 4, 2016
SUBJECT: Horse racing: the California Standardbred Sires
Stakes Program
SUMMARY: Modifies the requirements for Standardbred horses
eligible to race in the California Standardbred Sires Stakes
Program. Specifically, this bill:
1) Expands eligibility to race in the California Standardbred
Sires Stakes Program to include the offspring of registered
Standardbred stallions standing in Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota,
Michigan, or Maine, or the Province of Alberta, Canada.
2) Requires that races be scheduled for two-year-old or
three-year-old trotters and would delete the requirement that
two- and three-year-old races be divided into colt and filly
divisions.
3) Establishes the percentages to be allocated for horses
finishing in first through fifth place, inclusive, regardless of
the number of starters in the race.
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4) Makes conforming changes.
EXISTING LAW:
1) 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
pari-mutuel wagering, as well as enforcing all laws, rules, and
regulations dealing with horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering.
2) Establishes the California Standardbred Sires Stakes Program
for Standardbred horses bred in California, and provides that an
offspring of a registered California Standardbred stallion
standing in California during an entire breeding season is
eligible to race in the program.
3) Requires the CHRB to set a schedule of races for the program
in accordance with specified requirements, including, among
other things, that races be scheduled by the California
Standardbred Sires Stakes Committee, at its discretion, for
two-year-old and three-year-old trotters, as specified, and that
two- and three-year-old races be divided into colt and filly
divisions.
4) Establishes the manner of dividing the purse in California
Standardbred sires stakes races, and sets forth the percentages
to be allocated for horses placing in the race based on the
number of participating starters in a race.
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FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown.
COMMENTS:
Purpose of the bill: The sponsor of this measure, the
California Harness Horsemen's Association, 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 breeding and
development of Standardbred racehorses. In FY 2014-15, the
Standardbred Breeders Program generated approximately $225,000.
By law, the CSSSC provides oversight and administration of the
Sires Stakes Fund and all related Sires Stakes programs
including the California Stallion Register, Sires Stakes
eligibility and staked generations, Sires Stakes series races,
purses and awards.
According to the sponsor, in the last decade, there has been a
steep decline in the number of Standardbred foals - which are
used exclusively in harness racing - born in California. In 2004
there were 190 Standardbred foals born in California but only 15
in 2015. Breeders have left California for other states that
have slot machine revenues to supplement purse pools.
The sponsor notes that the shrinking Standardbred breeding
industry in California has significantly contributed to a
decline of racehorses and a resulting loss of jobs on both
breeding farms and racetracks. In 2006, Standardbreds raced
over 120 days a year at racetracks in California. Today there
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are only 54 live race days a year, resulting in staffing
reductions of 50% or more.
Under this measure, the requirements for Standardbred horses to
qualify to race in California Sire Stakes races would be
modified to allow horses bred in specified states but foaled in
California to qualify for entry to race.
Supporters state that this bill will create an incentive that
will help revive the overall breeding of Standardbred horses on
California farms, attract more horses to California, increase
the overall horse population, and add more live racing days to
the annual calendar.
Prior Legislation : AB 280 (Silva), Chapter 98, Statutes of
2011. Changed the definition of a California-bred Standardbred
horse to delete the requirement that the Standardbred foal be
conceived in California, as specified.
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 pari-mutuel 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
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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.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
California Harness Horseman's Association
Golden Bear Racing
Opposition
None on file
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Analysis Prepared by:Eric Johnson / G.O. / (916) 319-2531