SB 844: Horse racing: out-of-state thoroughbred races.

Official summary

Legislative Counsel’s Digest (official, as of the latest version). Written by nonpartisan legislative staff; reproduced verbatim.

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. Existing law prohibits the total number of thoroughbred races imported by associations or fairs on a statewide basis under these provisions from exceeding 75 races 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 instead prohibit the total number of thoroughbred races imported by associations or fairs on a statewide basis under these provisions from exceeding 80 races per day on days when live thoroughbred or fair racing is being conducted in the state, with the exception of prescribed races.

Existing law prohibits, when the total number of thoroughbred races imported by a thoroughbred association or fair on a statewide basis is between 51 and 75 races per day on days when live thoroughbred or fair racing is being conducted in the state, a thoroughbred association or fair from accepting wagers on the above-described out-of-state races commencing after 5 p.m., Pacific standard time, without the consent of the harness and quarter horse racing association that is then conducting a live racing meeting in the County of Orange or the County of Sacramento.

This bill would instead apply the above-described prohibition when the total number of thoroughbred races imported by a thoroughbred association or fair on a statewide basis is between 51 and 80 races per day on days when live thoroughbred or fair racing is being conducted in the state.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. June 25, 2025June 25 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
2. June 5, 2025Referred to Com. on G.O.
3. May 28, 2025In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
4. May 28, 2025Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 39. Noes 0. Page 1295.) Ordered to the Assembly.
5. April 8, 2025Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
6. April 7, 2025From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.
7. March 28, 2025Set for hearing April 7.
8. March 25, 2025From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0. Page 531.) (March 25). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
9. March 17, 2025Set for hearing March 25.
10. March 12, 2025Referred to Com. on G.O.
11. February 24, 2025Read first time.
12. February 24, 2025From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 24.