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Bills

AB 2471: Horse racing: unlicensed penalty.

  • Session Year: 2021-2022
  • House: Assembly
  • Latest Version Date: 2022-03-31
Version:
The Horse Racing Law authorizes a thoroughbred racing association or fair to distribute the audiovisual signal and accept wagers on the results of out-of-state thoroughbred races conducted in the United States during the calendar period the association or fair is conducting a race meeting, including days on which there is no live racing being conducted by the association or fair, without the consent of the organization that represents horsemen and horsewomen participating in the race meeting and without regard to the amount of purses. Under that law, the total number of thoroughbred races imported by associations or fairs on a statewide basis under these provisions are required to not exceed 50 per day on days when live thoroughbred or fair racing is being conducted in the state, with the exception of prescribed races.This bill would exempt from the 50 imported race per day limitation races imported that are part of the race card of the Whitney Stakes.

The Horse Racing Law authorizes the California Horse Racing Board to issue to any person who makes an application in writing, complies with specified provisions of this law, and who makes the deposit to secure payment of the license fee, a license to conduct a horse racing meeting at the track specified in the application, provided that the board determines that the issuance of the license will be in the public interest and will subserve the purposes of the Horse Racing Law. The Horse Racing Law makes it a misdemeanor for a person to directly or indirectly hold or conduct a meeting where there is horse racing and betting on the results, as specified, without first having procured a license.

This bill would instead make it a felony for a person to knowingly hold or conduct for profit any meeting or activity where there is horse racing and betting on the results, as specified, without first having procured a license. By changing the penalty for a crime and by expanding the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

News Coverage:

AB 2471: Horse racing: unlicensed penalty. | Digital Democracy