BILL ANALYSIS
AB 136
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Date of Hearing: May 6, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
AB 136 (Silva) - As Amended: April 29, 2009
Policy Committee: Governmental
Organization Vote: 19 - 0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill deletes the limitation regarding the number of harness
or quarter horse races that may be imported in a calendar year
by a quarter horse or harness racing association.
FISCAL EFFECT
Potential increase in revenue available to fund the CHRB and the
Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Laboratory at the University
of California, Davis due to increased wagering opportunities.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . This bill provides clean up to AB 2048 (Silva;
Chapter 439, Statutes of 2008). That bill allowed a harness
and Quarter Horse racing association to import an additional
two races, from six to eight, on live racing days from
out-of-state and out-of-country locations. Under current law,
however, there is a limitation on the number of races that can
be imported annually, which prohibits harness and quarter
horse racing from taking advantage of the additional two races
per day allowed in AB 2048. By removing that annual
limitation, this bill allows AB 2048 to be fully implemented.
2)Harness racing is a form of horse-racing in which
standard-bred horses race in a specified gait, either trotting
or a faster gait called pacing. The jockey sits in a
two-wheeled cart pulled by the horse. In California, harness
racing is held exclusively at Cal Expo in Sacramento. For
AB 136
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2008, the harness racing meets were scheduled from December
21, 2007 to July 31, 2008 and from September 10, 2008 to
December 20, 2008.
3)Quarter horse racing in California is held exclusively at Los
Alamitos race track. Unlike thoroughbreds, which make up most
professional racing and often race longer distances, quarter
horses are bred to sprint short distances ranging from 220 to
870 yards. The Los Alamitos meet lasts virtually all year long
with the 2008 meet lasting from December 27, 2007 until
December 21, 2008.
4)Background . In the late 1990's, California racetracks began
importing additional races from out-of-state locations to
provide California's horse racing patrons with the opportunity
to wager on quality races offered by racetracks throughout the
country. Since the introduction of this practice (which,
incidentally is authorized in many other states that likewise
allow pari-mutuel wagering on horse races), wagering on these
out-of-state races has been well received by betting patrons,
as evidenced by modest increases in overall wagering activity.
This has also helped the industry offset a continued reduction
in on-track wagering activity.
5)Related Legislation . AB 2048 (Silva; Chapter 439, Statutes of
2008), allowed a harness and Quarter Horse racing association
to import not more than eight races on live racing days.
Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)
319-2081