BILL ANALYSIS
AB 3074
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Date of Hearing: April 16, 2008
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Alberto Torrico, Chairman
AB 3074 (Governmental Organization Committee) - As Introduced:
March 13, 2008
SUBJECT : Horse racing
SUMMARY : Authorize the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) to
permit a California harness racing association to accept wagers
on the full card of races conducted by another racing
association on the day that other association conducts the
Kentucky Futurity. Specifically, this bill :
1)Authorizes CHRB to permit a California harness racing
association conducting a live racing meeting to accept wagers
on the full card of races conducted by another racing
association on the day that other association conducts the
Kentucky Futurity, as specified.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Provides that CHRB regulate the various forms of horse racing
authorized in this state.
2)Authorizes a licensed harness racing association that is
conducting a live racing meeting in this state to accept
wagers on the full card of races conducted by another racing
association on the day that other association conducts the
Breeder's Crown Stakes, the Meadowlands Pace, the
Hambletonian, or the North American Cup.
3)Authorizes a licensed quarter horse racing association that is
conducting a live racing meeting in this state to accept
wagers on races conducted by the racing association that
conducts the American Quarter Horse Racing Challenge, if the
races are conducted on the same day as the American Quarter
Horse Racing Challenge.
4)Authorizes the inclusion of wagers authorized pursuant to this
section in the pari-mutuel pools of the out-of-state
association that conducts the races on which the wagers are
placed.
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5)Authorizes thoroughbred racing associations or fairs to
distribute the audiovisual signal and accept wagers on the
results of certain 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.
6)Limits the number of races that may be imported by
associations and fairs to no more than 23 races per day on
days when live thoroughbred or fair racing is being conducted
in this state, with specified exceptions.
7)Exempts from that 23-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
Breeders' Cup, or the Haskell Invitational.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS :
This bill will allow a harness racing association in California
to import all of the races conducted on Kentucky Futurity day,
irrespective of the 6-race day limit. The Kentucky Futurity is
a stakes race for three-year-old trotters, held annually at The
Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky since 1893. It is part of the
Triple Crown of Harness Racing for Trotters. It is one of the
few events in the sport that uses the traditional format in
which a horse must win two heats to take home the trophy.
Winning the Kentucky Futurity has never been only about money,
it has also been about the prestige and tradition associated
with the race.
The bill will give the California harness racing industry a
marketing tool to increase on-track and off-track attendance on
that specific day. This bill will also provide the industry
with a mechanism to increase track commissions, purses,
breeder's awards, and state license fees.
Related legislation . AB 2812 (Silva) of 2008, allows a harness
and quarter horse racing association to import not more than 8
races on live racing days. (Assembly G.O. Committee)
Prior legislation . AB 1736 (Assembly Committee on Governmental
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Organization), Chapter 444, Statutes of 2007. adds the
"Travers Stakes" to the group of specific stake races which are
exempt from the 23-race per day limit on imported races, as
specified.
SB 379 (Denham), Chapter 443, Statutes of 2007, adds the Dubai
World Cup race to a specified list of races that would be
exempted from the 23 race per day limit on imported races for
satellite wagering in California.
SB 2035 (Karnette), Chapter 268, Statutes of 2002, allows a
harness or Quarter Horse racing association to "bank" up to two
out-of-state or out-of-county imported races on a specific race
day, and then add those races to another race day's importation
schedule.
SB 590 (Perata), Chapter 936, Statutes of 2001, authorized
thoroughbred racing associations and fairs in the northern
racing zone to increase the number of imported racing simulcasts
available to be wagered upon if the CHRB reduces the number of
live racing days.
SB 1183 (Margett), Chapter 232, Statutes of 2004. authorizes a
harness racing association that is conducting a live race
meeting to accept wagers on the full card of races conducted by
another racing association on the day the other racing
association conducts the Breeder's Crown Stakes, the Meadowlands
Pace, the Hambletonian or the North American Cup.
AB 509 (J. Horton), Chapter 235, Statutes of 2004, allows a
thoroughbred or fair association to distribute the audiovisual
signal and accept wagers on the results of out-of-country
thoroughbred races during the calendar period the association or
fair is conducting a race meeting under specified conditions.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file.
Opposition
None on file.
AB 3074
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Analysis Prepared by : Eric Johnson / G. O. / (916) 319-2531