BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 187|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
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CONSENT
Bill No: SB 187
Author: Hall (D)
Amended: 4/21/15
Vote: 21
SENATE GOVERNMENTAL ORG. COMMITTEE: 7-0, 4/28/15
AYES: Hall, Block, Hernandez, Hill, Hueso, Lara, McGuire
NO VOTE RECORDED: Berryhill, Gaines, Galgiani, Vidak
SUBJECT: Horse racing: out-of-state thoroughbred races:
Wood Memorial
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: This bill adds the "Wood Memorial" to the group of
stake races in Horse Racing Law which are exempt from the
50-race per day limit on imported races.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
1)Provides that the California Horse Racing Board shall regulate
the various forms of horse racing authorized in this state.
2)Limits the number of races that may be imported by
associations and fairs to no more than 50 races per day on
days when live thoroughbred or fair racing is being conducted
in this state, with specified exceptions.
3)Exempts from that 50-race per day limit races imported that
are part of the race card of certain prominent races,
including the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks, the Preakness
Stakes, the Belmont Stakes, the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the
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Travers Stakes, the Arlington Million, the Breeders' Cup, the
Dubai Cup, the Arkansas Derby, the Apple Blossom Handicap or
the Haskell Invitational.
4)Authorizes thoroughbred racing associations or fairs to
distribute the audiovisual signal and accept wagers on the
results of out-of-state and international thoroughbred races
during the calendar period the association or fair is
conducting live racing, including days on which there is no
live racing being conducted by the association or fair.
This bill adds the "Wood Memorial" to the group of stake races
in Horse Racing Law which are exempt from the 50-race per day
limit on imported races.
Background
Wood Memorial Stakes. The Wood Memorial is a flat thoroughbred
horse race for three-year-olds held annually in April at
Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. It is a Grade I race
run over a distance of nine furlongs (1-1/8 miles) on dirt. The
Wood Memorial is one of five races run as preps for the U.S.
Triple Crown. The race was named to honor Eugene D. Wood, a New
York State politician and horse racing enthusiast who had been a
founder and past president of the old Jamaica Racetrack where
the race was run from 1925 until 1960. Eleven winners of the
Wood Memorial have won the Kentucky Derby. Four of them also
won the Triple Crown. The 2015 Wood Memorial winner was
"Frosted" (Joel Rosario - jockey); 2nd "Tencendur" (Jose L.
Ortiz - jockey); 3rd "El Kabeir" (Charles C. Lopez - jockey);
and 4th "Daredevil" (Javier Castellano - jockey).
Purpose of SB 187. This bill provides that all races imported
by a thoroughbred association or fair that are part of the race
card of the overall Wood Memorial day would be exempted from the
50-race per day limit, as defined in current law. Over the
years, this provision of law has been amended to allow specific
notable races to be imported outside of this cap for promotional
and financial reasons.
The author's office notes that this bill is intended to help
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increase public interest and participation at California
racetracks and satellite wagering facilities. The satellite
importation of this historic and prestigious race will allow
California racetracks to remain competitive, increase the
wagering handle on this specific race day and will lead to
increased purses, racetrack revenue, and breeders' awards in
this state.
Satellite Wagering. Satellite wagering via an off-track
facility has been legal in California since 1985. It was
authorized at a time when California racetracks were beginning
to experience declining attendance and handle figures. The
industry believed that making the product easier to access not
only would expose and market horse racing to potential
customers, but also would make it more convenient for the
existing patrons to wager more often.
Simulcasting. Simulcasting is the process of transmitting the
audio and video signal of a live racing performance from one
facility to a satellite for re-transmission to other locations
or venues where parimutuel wagering is permitted. Simulcasting
provides racetracks with the opportunity to increase revenues by
exporting their live racing content to as many wagering
locations as possible, such as other racetracks, fair satellite
facilities and Indian casinos. Revenues are increased because
simulcasting provides racetracks that export their live content
with additional customers in multiple locations who would not
have otherwise been able to place wagers on the live racing
event.
Racetrack Attendance. Over the past 25 years the industry has
witnessed a general decline in the number of people attending
and wagering at live horse racetracks in California due to a
number of factors, including increased competition from other
forms of gaming, unwillingness of customers to travel a
significant distance to racetracks and the availability of
off-track wagering. The declining attendance at live horse
racing events has prompted racetracks to rely on revenues from
in-state and out-of-state satellite wagering and account
wagering.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
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Com.: No Local: No
SUPPORT: (Verified 4/28/15)
None received
OPPOSITION: (Verified 4/28/15)
None received
Prepared by:Arthur Terzakis / G.O. / (916) 651-1530
4/29/15 16:18:39
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