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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|COMMITTEE VOTE: |11-0 |(August 30, 2008) |RECOMMENDATION: |concur |
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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.
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EXISTING LAW :
1)Authorizes the CHRB to regulate the various forms of horse racing
authorized in this state.
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
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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 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
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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 a
registered thoroughbred stallion.
Analysis Prepared by : Eric Johnson / G. O. / (916) 319-2531
FN: 0007740