BILL ANALYSIS
AB 3073
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 3073 (Governmental Organization Committee)
As Amended August 19, 2008
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |76-0 |(May 1, 2008) |SENATE: |34-0 |(August 25, |
| | | | | |2008) |
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Original Committee Reference: G.O.
SUMMARY : Allows California-sired horses to be included within
the special races designated for California-bred horses, as
specified. Adds trainers to the list of person who may not
influence, induce or conspire to affect the result of race.
Makes a technical change with regards to the approval of
"vitamins and supplemental feeds" and makes minor and technical
changes to horse racing law.
The Senate amendments :
1)Require California-sired horses to be included within the
special races designated for California-bred horses, as
specified. A "California-sired horse" is a Thoroughbred that
was conceived in California by a registered California
stallion. A California-sired horse is only eligible for entry
in races restricted to California-bred or California-sired
horses and is not eligible for any breeder or owner awards.
2)Add trainers to the list of parties whom a person may not
influence, induce, or conspire with to affect race results.
3)Exempt recognized vitamins or supplemental feeds approved by
or in compliance with the rules and regulations of the
California Horse Racing Board (CHRB).
4)Make other technical and non-substantive changes to horse
racing law.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Authorizes the CHRB to regulate the various forms of horse
racing authorized in this state.
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2)Makes it an offense for any person to influence, induce, or
conspire with any owner, jockey, groom, or other person
associated with or interested in any stable, horse, or race in
which a horse participates, to affect the result of that race.
3)Forbids, among other things, the administration of drugs to a
horse to affect race results, but exempts from the definition
of drugs for this purpose recognized vitamins or supplemental
feeds approved by the veterinarian representing the CHRB.
4)Adds the definition of "California-sired horse" to the list of
horses allowed to participate in a California-bred race,
and requires every licensee conducting a horse racing meeting
to, each racing day, provide for the running of at least one
race limited to California-bred horses and California-sired
horses, to be known as the "California-bred race," as
specified.
5)Provides that a "California-sired horse" is a Thoroughbred
that was conceived in California by a registered California
stallion. A California-sired horse is only eligible for entry
in races restricted to California-bred or California-sired
horses and is not eligible for any breeder or owner awards.
6)Establishes the "California-Cup" and the "California Cup Day
of races. This is a series of races for which only officially
registered California-bred horses are eligible to run.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS :
Purpose of this bill : This bill will assist in building larger
inventory of horses to fill California-bred races. It provides
an incentive to breed registered California stallions for racing
and breeding in California, which will benefit both California
racing and agriculture.
Currently only registered California-bred horses are eligible to
be entered in a California-bred race. According to the author,
this bill will allow horses conceived in California, but not
necessarily foaled in state, to be eligible to be entered in
California-bred races, if they are registered. These registered
California-sired horses will only have entry in California-bred
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races and not be eligible for breeder or owner awards. Current
law provides for California sired horse's eligibility for
stallion awards and that will remain the same.
Furthermore, the bill makes clarifying changes to horse racing
law in that trainers, in addition to owners, jockeys, grooms,
amongst others, cannot conspire to "fix" a race. It is implied
in current law. However, this bill now specifically lists
trainers. Some horse racing enthusiasts say that a horse is
only as good as its trainer. This anecdotal comment highlights
the important role a trainer plays in the day-to-day care and
preparation of horses for racing. As such, it seems reasonable
that trainers are expressly added to the list of parties with
whom it is illegal to conspire to affect race results.
Finally, the bill provides that, when approving or exempting
vitamins and feed supplements from being administered as "drug",
the state veterinarian must do so in compliance with rules and
regulations of the board. Again, this is implied in current
law; however, this measure makes it clear.
Prior legislation :
SB 317 (Denham), Chapter 77, Statutes of 2007, requires
applicants for license as an official veterinarian to pass both
a written and oral exam, and would establish qualifications for
persons to be admitted to the official veterinarian exam.
SB 1396 (Denham) Chapter 400, Statutes of 2006, requires the
CHRB to contract with licensed veterinarians to perform the
duties of official veterinarians at horse races as specified.
SB 1465 (Costa), Chapter 145, Statutes of 2002, authorizes
the California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association to shift funds
from the Cal-bred Stakes Fund to a new pool to support the
"Sunshine Millions" series of stakes races featuring California
and Florida-bred horses.
SB 20 (Maddy), Chapter 2, Statutes of 1997, clarified and
redefined purses, breeder awards, owner premiums and stallion
awards for Cal-bred horses.
SB 1373 (Maddy), Chapter 393, Statutes of 1996, provides that a
California-bred winner of a qualifying race will earn either a
10 or 20% bonus depending on whether the horse was conceived by
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a registered thoroughbred stallion.
Analysis Prepared by : Eric Johnson / G. O. / (916) 319-2531
FN: 0007626