BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2520
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 18, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION
Isadore Hall, Chair
AB 2520 (Hall) - As Introduced: February 24, 2012
SUBJECT : Horse racing: harness or quarter horses.
SUMMARY : Increases the amount of races a harness and Quarter
Horse racing association may import (out-of-state or
out-of-country) on live racing days from eight to ten races.
EXISTING LAW :
1) Provides that the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB)
regulate the various forms of horse racing authorized in this
state.
2) Provides CHRB is authorized to permit a harness or Quarter
Horse association conducting a race meeting to accept wagers on
the results of up to eight out-of-state or out-of-country
harness or Quarter Horse races per day, if specified conditions
are met. If only one breed is being raced on a given day, the
racing association conducting live racing may import those races
that would otherwise be simulcast by the association that is not
racing, as specified.
3) Provides no quarter horse or harness racing association
shall accept wagers on out-of-state or out-of-country quarter
horse or harness races commencing before 5:30 p.m., Pacific
standard time, without the consent of any thoroughbred
association or fair that is then conducting a live racing
meeting in this state.
4) 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, Texas
Classic Futurity and Remington Park Futurity, if the races are
conducted on the same day as the featured race.
5) 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
AB 2520
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Breeder's Crown Stakes, the Meadowlands Pace, Cane Pace,
Kentucky Futurity the Hambletonian, or the North American Cup.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS :
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 the betting patron,
as evidenced by modest increases in overall wagering activity.
This has also helped the industry offset a continued reduction
in on-track wagering activity.
Purpose of the bill : Over the past several years, there has
been a noticeable decline in the number of people attending and
participating in live horse racing events in California. The
declining attendance at live horse racing events has prompted
racetracks to rely on revenues from in-state and out-of-state
satellite wagering and account wagering to compensate for losses
at their live horse racing events.
Current law however restricts the number of Quarter horse and/or
harness races that can be imported via satellite to eight races
per day by the respective racing association. By allowing each
breed to import an additional two races per day it will enable
each racing association to import a full card of races from an
out-of-state location. Generally, racing fans are not being
able to wager on certain races on a given night which has caused
confusion at on and off-track facilities in California.
This measure will give California's Quarter and harness racing
industry a marketing tool to increase on-track and off-track
attendance and wagering handle throughout California. AB 2520
will also provide those breeds with a mechanism to increase
track commissions, purses, and breeder's awards.
Prior legislation : AB 136 (Silva), Chapter 221, Statutes of
2009. Deletes the limitation on the total number of
out-of-state or out-of-country harness or quarter horse races
AB 2520
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that may be imported in a calendar year by a harness or quarter
horse racing association.
AB 2048 (Silva) of 2008, Chapter 439, Statutes of 2008, allowed
a harness and Quarter Horse racing association to import not
more than eight races on 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.
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.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
None on file
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by : Eric Johnson / G. O. / (916) 319-2531