Horse racing.

Existing 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 existing law, the total number of thoroughbred races imported by associations or fairs on a statewide basis under this section shall 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, including races that are part of the race card of the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks, the Preakness Stakes, the Belmont Stakes, the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the Travers Stakes, the Arlington Million, the Breeders' Cup, the Dubai Cup, or the Haskell Invitational. This bill would exempt from the 50 race per day limitation, races that are part of the race card of the Arkansas Derby. Existing law requires a portion of the funds deducted from purses to be paid to a trainers' organization for administrative expenses and services rendered to trainers and backstretch employees. This bill would specify that the referenced trainers' organization, known as the California Thoroughbred Trainers, Inc., is the plan sponsor for purposes of the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) .