Amended in Assembly July 3, 2014

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 161

Introduced by Assembly Members begin delete Conway and Logue end delete begin insert Logue, Hall, and Perea end insert

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(Coauthors: Assembly Members Bigelow, Campos, Chesbro, Conway, Gray, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Levine, Linder, Maienschein, Medina, Mullin, Quirk-Silva, V. Manuel Pérez, and Waldron)

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June 11, 2014

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 161—Relative to begin delete horse racing. end delete begin insert California Chrome. end insert

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 161, as amended, begin delete Conway end delete   begin insert Logue end insert . begin delete Horse racing: California Chrome. end delete begin insert California Chrome: thoroughbred horse racing. end insert

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

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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.

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Fiscal committee: no.

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WHEREAS, California has a long and proud thoroughbred
racing history, dating back some 160 years. In particular, the
Central Valley has been the birthplace of champions since the
1880s. California Chrome, born and raised at Harris Farms in
Coalinga, continues that tradition and has become an outstanding
representative of his namesake state; and

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WHEREAS, California horse racing today accounts for an
estimated 50,000 jobs, 148,000 thoroughbred horses, and a $2.5
billion impact on the state’s economy. Combining athleticism,
grace, beauty, and speed, this sport reaches millions of fans
worldwide and carries priceless positive impressions of what
California has to offer; and

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WHEREAS, The Kentucky Derby is the world’s most famous
horse race and part of the celebrated Triple Crown of
thoroughbred horse racing for three-year-old horses only. Along
with the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, these three classics are
the races that horse owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys all
dream of winning; and

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begin insert WHEREAS, This spring, California Chrome won the 140th
Kentucky Derby and 139th Preakness Stakes, the first time a
California-bred colt swept the first two legs of the Triple Crown.
Both victories ended lengthy droughts for the state’s racing
industry. California Chrome became the fourth California-born
Derby winner and first since 1962 and California’s fifth Preakness
winner and first since 1986; and end insert

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WHEREAS, It takes a very special horse to reach national
prominence by winning multiple races at multiple tracks across
the country. In his career so far, California Chrome has won races
at California’s Hollywood Park, Del Mar, and Santa Anita Park,
in addition to Kentucky’s Churchill Downs and Maryland’s Pimlico
Race Course at distances from 41⁄2 furlongs to 11⁄4 miles; and

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WHEREAS, Among California Chrome’s eight career victories
there was a six-stakes win streak featuring such milestones as the
King Glorious Stakes, the final stakes event held at Hollywood
Park, and the $1 million Santa Anita Derby as well as the Kentucky
Derby and the Preakness Stakes; and

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WHEREAS, California Chrome, a chestnut-colored horse as
golden as his home state, transcended thoroughbred horse racing
to become an international phenomenon not just with his brilliant
speed and winning ways, but due to his heart-warming story and
the people who make up his team; and

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WHEREAS, California is a state where people are unafraid to
dream big and that’s in part what inspired four fans to cross over
into horse ownership and become first-time breeders. An
inspiration to the “little guys” everywhere, Perry and Denise
Martin of Yuba City and Steve and Carolyn Coburn of Topaz Lake,
Nevada, became partners in a mare, Love the Chase, who they
bought from a syndicate for $8,000. After someone scoffed at their
perceived foolishness, the couples named their new venture “Dumb
Ass Partners (D.A.P.) Racing”; and

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WHEREAS, The partners sent their lone mare to Harris Farms
to be bred and chose the stallion Lucky Pulpit, owned by Mr. and
Mrs. Larry Williams. California Chrome is Love the Chase’s first
foal. Before the colt was born, Steve Coburn vividly dreamed about
the big chestnut colt with four white legs and distinctive blaze and
felt sure the newborn was destined for greatness; and

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WHEREAS, After a difficult birth, the mare was nursed back to
health by the excellent and attentive veterinary staff at Harris
Farms. This hands-on care also imprinted a love for people on
her intelligent and precocious son nicknamed “Junior.”
Developing his mind and body, California Chrome spent his first
two years at Harris Farms, where he was groomed to be a
racehorse; and

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begin insert WHEREAS, When it came time to start racing, the partners sent
their only racehorse to trainer Art Sherman with the proclamation
that this was “his Derby horse” and a suggested road map of races
to qualify. Sherman’s prior Derby experience was as the exercise
rider for California-bred 1955 Kentucky Derby winner Swaps.
Coincidentally, California Chrome is Swaps’
great-great-great-great grandson; and end insert

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WHEREAS, California Chrome, as he prepared for the Triple
Crown trail, gained his foundation and experience in the lucrative
Golden State Series for Cal-bred horses, confirming the value and
significance of the state’s breeding program; and

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WHEREAS, Art Sherman, at 77 years of age, became the oldest
trainer to win the Kentucky Derby. California Chrome also became
the first Derby and Preakness winner trained at Los Alamitos Race
Course in Cypress, California; and

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WHEREAS, Success is the result of teamwork and California
Chrome’s campaign is no exception. Jockey Victor Espinoza guided
the colt to those six straight stakes wins. Assistant trainer Alan
Sherman served as his father’s right-hand man and accompanied
their Triple Crown candidate for six weeks on the road; and

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WHEREAS, Groom Raul Rodriguez became California Chrome’s
constant companion, attending to his every need. Exercise rider
Willie Delgado made sure the colt paid attention to his morning
lessons; and

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WHEREAS, California Chrome’s Triple Crown bid fell short
when he injured a hoof at the start of the 146th Belmont Stakes,
yet valiantly finished tied for fourth only 13⁄4 lengths from victory.
That loss did not diminish his amazing accomplishments; and

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WHEREAS, In any sport, it takes an extraordinary athlete to
become a household name. California Chrome joined a short list
of such equine superstars as Seabiscuit and Secretariat with
cross-over appeal and the ability to make new fans as evidenced
by his thousands of “Chromies”; and

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WHEREAS, California Chrome became, as Art Sherman said,
a “California rock star” and the latest example that California
dreams can come true; and

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WHEREAS, California Chrome’s grit, determination, and heart
carried him far beyond this state; it made California Chrome
“America’s horse”; now, therefore, be it

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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 thoroughbred
horse racing’s Triple Crown, and, in particular, for his tremendous
victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes; and be
it further

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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

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

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

end delete begin delete

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

end delete begin delete

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

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

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