California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 161

Introduced by Assembly Members Conway and Logue

June 11, 2014

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 161—Relative to horse racing.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 161, as introduced, Conway. Horse racing: California Chrome.

This measure would recognize the performance of California Chrome during his run for horse racing’s Triple Crown, including his victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, would recognize and congratulate the many Californians who are part of his ownership group, breeding and training cadre, and other essential elements that led to the success of California Chrome, and would recognize the history of horse racing in California and its contributions to job creation and the state’s economy.

Fiscal committee: no.

WHEREAS, Few California-bred horses may claim to winning
any one of the Triple Crown races - the Kentucky Derby, the
Preakness Stakes, and the Belmont Stakes - as 1,800 foals are born
in California compared to 20,000 foals in Kentucky; and

WHEREAS, Four “California-bred” horses, including a horse
named California Chrome, may boast a Kentucky Derby win, and
no California horse has won the Triple Crown; and

WHEREAS, California Chrome’s upbringing is a story that
embodies the very best of California’s horse racing traditions and
landscape as he was foaled in the horse breeding division of Harris
Ranch, the state’s largest beef producer; and

WHEREAS, California Chrome’s mother, Love the Chase, was
an unfortunate racing filly purchased by Steve Coburn of Topaz
Lake, Nevada and Perry Martin of Yuba City, who together own
Martin Testing Laboratories located at the McClellan Business
Park in Sacramento; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Coburn and Mr. Martin purchased Love the
Chase outright for a paltry sum of $8,000, a transaction that
prompted someone to say that “only a fool would buy Love the
Chase,” and, as such, Mr. Coburn and Mr. Perry formed a company
aptly named Dumb Ass Partners, or DAP; and

WHEREAS, DAP retired Love the Chase in 2009, bred her with
the equally unimpressive Lucky Pulpit, and together the two horses
sired California Chrome, who was born in 2011 with four white
stockings and a white stripe down his face, features that horse
aficionados call “chrome”; and

WHEREAS, California Chrome bears many unique
characteristics, including him appearing to deliberately stop and
pose for cameras as he hears them clicking while walking in the
stable area, which prompted his exercise rider, Willie Delgado, to
give him an additional nickname, “Vogue”; and

WHEREAS, Another unusual characteristic is that California
Chrome refuses to walk forward out of horse vans when the
transport vehicle is designed for a forward exit, preferring to back
out instead; and

WHEREAS, As a two-year-old, California Chrome raced several
times at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Park, San Diego’s Del Mar
Racetrack, and Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, where he won some
races and finished sixth in others; and

WHEREAS, Jockey Victor Espinoza and California Chrome
had been unstoppable together, with a six-race winning streak that
included the Golden State Juvenile Stakes, California Cup Derby,
the San Felipe Stakes, and the Santa Anita Derby; and

WHEREAS, The pair dazzled fans during this year’s Kentucky
Derby and Preakness Stakes, where California Chrome won by 1
3⁄4 lengths and 1 1⁄2 lengths, respectively; and

WHEREAS, California Chrome gained nationwide appeal, but
the core of his fan base was centered in the Central Valley of
California, where the Sacramento television market ranked sixth
in the nation for television viewership for the Preakness Stakes,
and third in the nation for the Belmont Stakes; and

WHEREAS, Local followers of California Chrome in the Central
Valley, also called “Chromies,” liked that purple was a color on
the horse’s racing silks, similar to the team colors of the
Sacramento Kings; and

WHEREAS, Eleven horses entered the Belmont Stakes, and
California Chrome drew post position number two, the same post
position of former Triple Crown winner Secretariat in the 1973
Belmont; and

WHEREAS, Out of the gates, California Chrome was stepped
on by the horse next to him, tearing off a “chunk” of his hoof, yet
despite this most unfortunate occurrence, California Chrome
finished in a dead heat for fourth with Wicked Strong; and

WHEREAS, As a result of his unique pedigree and remarkable
racing accomplishments, California Chrome has been dubbed
“America’s Horse,” has earned over $3.4 million in earnings, and
has tremendously benefited the state’s $34 billion horse racing
industry; now, therefore be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the outstanding
performance of California Chrome during his remarkable run for
horse racing’s Triple Crown, and, in particular, for his tremendous
victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes; and be
it further

Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes and congratulates the
many Californians who are part of the ownership group, breeding
and training cadre, and other essential elements that led to the
success of California Chrome; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes the storied history of
horse racing in California, and horse racing’s important
contributions to job creation and the state’s economy that result
from a vibrant California horse racing industry; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit a copy
of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.