Harness racing organizations.

Existing law, the Horse Racing Law, governs, among other types of horse races, harness horse racing, in which horses that meet specified criteria are harnessed to a sulky or similar vehicle and raced at either the trotting or pacing gait. Existing law vests jurisdiction and supervision over all horse racing meetings, including harness races, in this state in the California Horse Racing Board. Existing law requires, until January 1, 2014, the harness racing association and the organization representing harness horsemen and horsewomen to form an organization to which certain funds, that may be deducted from the total amount handled in conventional parimutuel pools of harness races, are distributed for purposes of reducing the workers' compensation insurance costs for trainers who are racing horses at the applicable harness racing association meet, as specified. This bill would additionally require that organization to account to the California Horse Racing Board on or before August 1 of each year with respect to the distribution of funds received pursuant to those provisions during the immediately preceding fiscal year and to obtain an independent audit of those distributions. The bill would also require that a copy of the completed audit be forwarded to the board within 45 days of its receipt by the organization.