BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2520
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 2, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 2520 (Hall) - As Introduced: February 24, 2012
Policy Committee: Governmental
Organization Vote: 15 - 0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill increases, from eight to 10, the amount of races a
harness and quarter horse racing association may import
(out-of-state or out-of-country) on live racing days.
FISCAL EFFECT
Potential minor 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)Purpose . Current law 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
The author hopes this measure will give California's quarter
horse and harness racing industry a marketing tool to increase
on-track and off-track attendance and wagering handle. If
this increase results in additional wagering, this bill could
provide those breeds with a mechanism to increase track
commissions, purses, and breeder's awards.
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
AB 2520
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two-wheeled cart pulled by the horse. In California, harness
racing is held exclusively at Cal Expo in Sacramento. For
2011-12, the harness racing meets are scheduled from December
26, 2011 to June 30, 2012.
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 2011-12 meet lasting from December 30, 2011 until
December 23, 2012.
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 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
that may be imported in a calendar year by a harness or
quarter horse racing association.
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