BILL ANALYSIS
Bill No: AB
1992
SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Senator Roderick D. Wright, Chair
2009-2010 Regular Session
Staff Analysis
AB 1992 Author: Portantino
As Amended: March 24, 2010
Hearing Date: June 9, 2010
Consultant: Chris Lindstrom
SUBJECT
Horse racing: safety standards: racing surface.
DESCRIPTION
AB 1992 requires the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB)
to establish and maintain its current safety standards for
racing surfaces whether the surface is synthetic or dirt,
and for the maintenance of the racing surface.
EXISTING LAW
Provides that CHRB regulate the various forms of horse
racing authorized in this state.
Requires the CHRB to establish safety standards governing
the uniformity and content of the racing surface.
BACKGROUND
Purpose of the bill . According to the author, this bill
will ensure that California remains one of the most
proactive racing jurisdictions in the country in its
efforts to reduce racetrack injuries and afford
participants the most protection possible, whether in track
safety or in safe practices. The bill will give the CHRB
and the racing industry a tool to stay committed to a high
degree of transparency in the conduct of all its activities
related to safety and integrity for its human and equine
AB 1992 (Portantino) continued
Page 2
athletes. The author states that when owners, trainers,
tracks, and other industry participants work together on an
issue such as track safety, it will lead to standards which
will benefit the entire industry.
Background . In 2006, the CHRB adopted a rule to require
the installation of a synthetic surface at all racetracks
that conduct more than four weeks of racing in California
by the end of 2007. The tracks impacted were Santa Anita,
Hollywood Park, Golden Gate Fields, Bay Meadows and Del
Mar. The CHRB stated that it viewed synthetic surfaces as
crucial to the health and safety of the jockeys, horses,
and other directly related participants in racing. Various
racing associations (tracks), owners, trainers and jockeys
also expressed interest in converting to synthetic type
racing surfaces. It was believed that this type of surface
would provide a more consistent and safer racing surface
which would save money in maintenance costs. To date, all
of the tracks have met the mandate. Bay Meadows has ceased
live racing operations. It has been reported that the cost
of installing a synthetic surface costs between $6 million
and $10 million per track.
Engineered racing surfaces typically include several layers
- a drainage system, then sometimes another layer of sand,
and a mixture of fibers, sand, and wax on top. The mixture
is the "secret ingredient" of each racing surface. There
are several types of synthetic racetrack surfaces being
used worldwide. Some of the different types of patented
synthetic surfaces used at California's racetracks include:
Polytrack, Cushion Track, Pro-Ride, and Tapeta Footings.
Manufacturers of synthetic racetrack surfaces promote the
fact that their products have drainage attributes that are
better than natural surfaces, which allows tracks to be
rated as fast under circumstances that would normally
result in sloppy, slow or muddy conditions.
The recipe for finding the correct mixture for each
racetrack surface has proven considerably more elusive than
anticipated. Synthetic surfaces were touted as
low-maintenance alternatives to the constant tinkering that
goes hand-in-hand with dirt surfaces. However, few of the
tracks that have switched to artificial surfaces have been
truly low-maintenance. Some of California's race meets have
struggled with climate vacillations-temperature and
moisture-and drainage issues on extremely raining days.
AB 1992 (Portantino) continued
Page 3
To date, synthetic surfaces in California have been a
subject of much debate; there are naysayers and believers;
and at this juncture, there is no consensus about them
within California's racing industry, as they have been the
subject of much deliberation in front of the CHRB and other
related organizations. California's racing surfaces have
been a subject of dispute for years pertaining to their
safety, make-up, and consistency.
CHRB oversight of surfaces . In 2009, the CHRB stated that
the board would be coordinating a range of studies to gain
a better understanding of racing surfaces and determine any
relationship between racing surfaces and equine injuries in
order to improve these surfaces, reduce injuries, and meet
the CHRB's statutory obligation to develop track safety
standards for the protection of horses and riders.
In 2010, subject to funding approval, the CHRB will
contract, equip, and train personnel for the continual
inspection of all racing surfaces (dirt, turf, and
synthetic). The inspections will include monitoring
maintenance practices and measuring such variables as
moisture content, track surface composition, and
temperature. The measurements eventually will be correlated
to injuries. The CHRB has named a safety steward for each
racetrack to assist in this effort. The CHRB requested a
budget appropriation to develop safety standards for racing
surfaces. The money to fund this project would be paid for
by the industry.
PRIOR/RELATED LEGISLATION
SB 1464 (Denham), 2005-2006 Legislative Session . Would
have required any horse racing track operating four weeks
or more of continuous thoroughbred racing in any calendar
year to install a polymer, synthetic-type racing surface
prior to December 31, 2007. (Passed off the Senate floor
but no further action was taken.)
SB 1237 (Maddy), Chapter 1120, Statutes of 1993 . The CHRB
is required to establish safety standards for race tracks
and to designate a steward responsible for maintaining
safety standards at all horse race meetings. No license to
conduct racing may be granted until a track is found in
compliance with the standards.
AB 1992 (Portantino) continued
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SUPPORT / OPPOSE : None on file as of June 4, 2010.
FISCAL COMMITTEE : Senate Appropriations Committee
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