Horse racing: California-bred horses and parimutuel tickets.

Under existing law, the California Horse Racing Board is responsible for adopting rules and regulations for the protection of the public and the control of horse racing and parimutuel wagering, as well as enforcing all laws, rules, and regulations dealing with horse racing and parimutuel wagering. Existing law establishes a California Standardbred Sires Stakes Program for standardbred horses, including harness horses, bred in this state. Existing law defines a "California-bred standardbred horse" as a standardbred foal conceived in California by a stallion registered with the California Standardbred Sires Stakes Program. Existing law requires that California standardbred sires stakes races be scheduled for 2-year-old and 3-year-old trotters and 2-year-old and 3-year-old pacers at the discretion of the California Standardbred Sires Stakes Committee, except as specified. Existing law requires that base purses for each set of races, as defined, conducted during any given year at any race meeting be determined by the committee and requires that those purses be equal for all 2-year-old and 3-year-old races regardless of sex and gait, except that, if divisions are raced, the base purse for each division shall be no less than 75% of the original base purse and, if elimination heats are raced, the base purse shall be determined by the committee. This bill would revise the definition of a California-bred standardbred horse to delete the requirement that the standardbred foal be conceived in California. The bill would also delete the requirement that base purses for each set of races be equal for all 2-year-old and 3-year-old races regardless of sex and gait, including the exception described above requiring a minimum base purse of 75% of the original base purse if divisions are raced, and instead require that all base purses for each set of races conducted during any given year at any race meeting be determined by the committee. Existing law prohibits any person from altering or counterfeiting, or attempting to alter or counterfeit, any parimutuel ticket. The bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to that provision.