Section § 19540

Explanation

This law says that when a fair in California holds a horse racing event with betting, it should try to include different types of horse races like thoroughbred, quarter horse, Arabian, and Appaloosa races, as long as there are enough horses to compete.

In order to encourage and develop the racing of all horses in California, regardless of breed, whenever a fair conducts a program of horse races on which there is parimutuel wagering, the fair, so far as practicable, shall provide a program of racing that includes thoroughbred racing, quarter horse racing, Arabian racing, and Appaloosa racing, if a sufficient number of horses is available to provide competition in one or more races.

Section § 19542

Explanation

This law allows fairs in the northern zone of California that host live horse racing to let a joint powers authority manage and distribute prize money for races, regardless of other laws.

Notwithstanding any other law, fairs that conduct live horse racing meetings in the northern zone may allow a joint powers authority to administer and distribute purses.

Section § 19546

Explanation

This law allows fairs in California to hold betting events, called parimutuel wagering, on horse races of various breeds, including thoroughbreds, harness racers, quarter horses, and more. It also permits barrel races, show jumping, and steeplechase races where any recognized horse breed can compete. Additionally, facilities where this betting takes place must be approved and licensed by the appropriate board.

(a)CA Business & Professions Code § 19546(a) In order to encourage and develop the racing of all horses in California, regardless of breed, whenever a fair conducts a program of parimutuel wagering, it may provide a program of mixed breed racing that includes thoroughbred racing, harness racing, quarter horse racing, Arabian racing, paint racing, Appaloosa racing, steeplechase races, barrel races, and show jumping races.
(b)CA Business & Professions Code § 19546(b) All recognized breeds of horses may compete in barrel races, show jumping races, and steeplechase races. Parimutuel wagering may be conducted on barrel races, show jumping races, and steeplechase races at any public or private facility that has been approved and licensed by the board.

Section § 19547

Explanation

When a fair organizes a horse racing event, they don't have to make any kind of deposit, even though there might be other rules suggesting otherwise.

Notwithstanding Section 19490, no deposit shall be required for any horse racing meeting conducted by a fair.

Section § 19548

Explanation

This law says that fairs that run horse racing events themselves, without involving private individuals or companies, do not have to pay any licenses, taxes, or fees, unless specified otherwise in this chapter.

Except as provided in this chapter, no license, tax, or fee shall be assessed against or collected from any fair which, directly and not through any private person, conducts a horse racing meeting.

Section § 19549

Explanation

This law states that county or state fairs in California can be allocated up to four weeks of horse racing each year, unless there's an exception in another section. Decisions about when these races will happen must involve public input and be made during a public hearing, ensuring transparency. However, the board still has the ultimate authority to decide on these racing dates.

Except as provided in Section 19549.1, the maximum number of racing weeks that may be allocated to a fair shall be four weeks each year. The board shall take public testimony and make all determinations on the allocation of racing dates during a public hearing. All discussions of allocating racing dates by the board or its subcommittees shall be conducted during a public hearing. Nothing in this section diminishes the authority of the board to establish racing dates.

Section § 19549.1

Explanation

This law allows specific horse racing days to be scheduled for mixed breed or combined fair races. However, if there is a standardbred horse racing event happening at the California Exposition and State Fair in June, then no additional mixed breed or fair races can be scheduled at that time.

Notwithstanding Sections 19533 and 19549 or any other provision of this chapter, the board may allocate horse racing days for mixed breed meetings and combined fair horse racing meetings pursuant to Section 4058 of the Food and Agricultural Code. Days may not be allocated for a mixed breed meeting or a combined fair horse racing meeting during the month of June at the California Exposition and State Fair if a standardbred meeting is being conducted at that facility during the month of June.

Section § 19549.2

Explanation

This law allows the board to give the 22nd District Agricultural Association up to 12 weeks of harness horse racing, but the races must be organized by someone other than the Association itself. The races take place on the Association's grounds.

From the weeks available for harness and quarter horse racing pursuant to paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 19531, the board may allocate a maximum of 12 weeks of harness racing to the 22nd District Agricultural Association to be conducted on the 22nd District Agricultural Association grounds. The racing shall be conducted by a person other than the 22nd District Agricultural Association.

Section § 19549.4

Explanation
This law allows the racing board to assign racing weeks that are shorter than five days to groups hosting harness or quarter horse races, as long as both the racing organizers and the horsemen's organization agree to it.
Notwithstanding Section 19414.5, the board may allocate racing weeks consisting of fewer than five days to an association conducting harness or quarter horse racing meetings if the association and the organization representing the horsemen participating in the meeting agree to the allocation.

Section § 19549.6

Explanation

This law allows the board to give extra weeks for harness racing events at the California Exposition and State Fair in Sacramento, even if other rules suggest otherwise.

Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 19531 and Sections 19540, 19546, and 19549, the board may allocate additional weeks of harness racing to the California Exposition and State Fair in Sacramento or its lessee, to be raced at the California Exposition and State Fair in Sacramento.

Section § 19549.7

Explanation

This law allows the board to give extra weeks of quarter horse racing to whoever is renting the California Exposition and State Fair in Sacramento, even if there are other rules that might usually limit it.

Notwithstanding paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 19531 and Section 19549, the board may allocate additional weeks of quarter horse racing to a lessee of the California Exposition and State Fair in Sacramento to be raced at the California Exposition and State Fair in Sacramento.

Section § 19549.9

Explanation

This law allows the board to give permission for up to 10 more weeks of harness racing at the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds in Pomona, even if other laws might usually restrict it.

Notwithstanding paragraph (4) of subdivision (a) of Section 19531 and Section 19549, the board may allocate up to 10 additional weeks of harness racing to the Los Angeles County Fair, or its lessee, to be raced at the fairgrounds in Pomona.

Section § 19549.12

Explanation

This law allows county fairs that hold racing events under Section 19549.3 to run harness racing or quarter horse racing, even if other sections have different rules.

Notwithstanding Sections 19482 and 19549, any weeks of harness racing or quarter horse racing allocated by the board to be raced at the facilities of a county fair that conducts its racing meeting pursuant to Section 19549.3 may be conducted by the fair.

Section § 19549.13

Explanation

This law allows fairs in the northern zone that host horse racing events to work with organizations representing horsemen to create a program for stabling and training horses. Each year, both the fairs and the horsemen's organizations need to agree on how these facilities will be run, including how a fair can opt out if needed. Individual horsemen who want to participate have to sign agreements covering key details like insurance and deposits. All agreements must be approved by the relevant board. Fairs have the choice to participate in the program or not.

(a)CA Business & Professions Code § 19549.13(a) Fairs that conduct racing meetings in the northern zone may, and horsemen’s organizations that represent horsemen who participate at fair racing meetings in the northern zone shall, jointly develop a program to provide for stabling and training facilities. This program shall be based on the anticipated inventory of horses and the number of available stalls and locations.
(b)CA Business & Professions Code § 19549.13(b) Participating fairs and horsemen’s organizations shall annually ratify an agreement which includes provisions governing the operation of the stabling and training facilities. The agreement shall also specify the conditions under which a participating fair may terminate its participation in the program.
(c)CA Business & Professions Code § 19549.13(c) Individual horsemen who elect to participate in the program shall be required to sign standard agreements with the participating fair governing the operation of the program. The agreements shall contain provisions that govern the operation of the program, including, but not be limited to, insurance coverage and payment of a security deposit.
(d)CA Business & Professions Code § 19549.13(d) All agreements provided for in this section shall be approved by the board.
(e)CA Business & Professions Code § 19549.13(e) Each fair that conducts racing meetings in the northern zone may elect whether to participate in the stabling and training program.

Section § 19549.14

Explanation

This law allows the San Mateo County Fair to hold live horse races at a different location if its current venue, Bay Meadows, closes. Whether the races are held inside or outside San Mateo County, the same rules apply as if they were still at Bay Meadows. If the racing group licensed to hold thoroughbred races in 2002 isn't licensed again in later years, the Fair can seek permission to race at a facility in the northern zone that's already licensed to hold such events.

(a)CA Business & Professions Code § 19549.14(a) Notwithstanding, Section 19489 or any other provision of this chapter, the board may permit the San Mateo County Fair to conduct live racing meetings at another site within or outside San Mateo County if its present site, Bay Meadows, closes.
(b)CA Business & Professions Code § 19549.14(b) Live horse racing meetings conducted by the San Mateo County Fair, whether they are conducted within or outside of San Mateo County, shall be subject to the same provisions as are presently applicable to the San Mateo County Fair’s conduct of live horse racing meetings at Bay Meadows.
(c)CA Business & Professions Code § 19549.14(c) If the racing association licensed in the year 2002 to conduct thoroughbred race meetings in San Mateo County is not licensed to conduct a horse racing meeting in that county in any subsequent year, the San Mateo County Fair may, subject to the approval of the board, conduct its racing dates at a facility operated by a thoroughbred racing association or fair licensed to conduct a meeting in the northern zone.

Section § 19549.15

Explanation

This law allows the Solano County Fair to hold live horse racing events at a different location if the original site used in 2002 becomes unavailable in future years. The fair can conduct these races either within or outside Solano County. Additionally, with board approval, the fair can use facilities operated by a licensed thoroughbred racing association or fair in the northern zone for its racing dates. The fair can either manage the races themselves or hire a third party, such as a thoroughbred racing association, to handle the operation.

(a)CA Business & Professions Code § 19549.15(a) Notwithstanding Section 19489 or any other provision of this chapter, the board may permit the Solano County Fair to conduct live racing meetings at another site within or outside Solano County, if the site of its 2002 racing meeting is no longer available for horse racing in any subsequent year. Further, subject to the approval of the board, the Solano County Fair may conduct its racing dates at a facility operated by a thoroughbred racing association or fair licensed to conduct a racing meeting in the northern zone.
(b)CA Business & Professions Code § 19549.15(b) Any racing meeting licensed to the fair pursuant to subdivision (a) may be operated by the fair or the fair may contract for the operation and management of the racing meeting with an individual thoroughbred racing association or fair, or a partnership, joint venture, or other affiliation of one or more thoroughbred racing associations or fairs.

Section § 19549.16

Explanation

This law allows for the scheduling of horse racing events at fairs in Northern California. The board can assign specific racing days to a fair, and the fair can either conduct the races themselves or have a licensed racing association do it for them. Any horse races held must follow the existing laws for fair race meetings in that area.

(a)CA Business & Professions Code § 19549.16(a) Notwithstanding any other law, the board may allocate racing days, pursuant to this article, to a fair in the northern zone to be conducted by the fair or, at the request of the fair, the board may license a racing association that was licensed by the board to conduct racing meetings in California prior to 2010 to conduct live horse racing at the fair during the dates allocated to the fair by the board.
(b)CA Business & Professions Code § 19549.16(b) The live horse racing days, whether they are conducted by the fair or the racing association contracting with the fair, shall be subject to the same provisions of law as are presently applicable to a fair race meeting in the northern zone.

Section § 19549.17

Explanation

This law allows the Los Angeles County Fair to hold live horse racing events at a different location than its usual site, even outside Los Angeles County, as long as it gets approval from the board. The fair can either run these racing events itself or hire a previously licensed racing association to manage them.

(a)CA Business & Professions Code § 19549.17(a) Notwithstanding any other law, the board may permit the Los Angeles County Fair to conduct live racing meetings at another site within or outside the County of Los Angeles. Subject to approval of the board, the Los Angeles County Fair may conduct its racing dates at a facility operated by a thoroughbred racing association licensed to conduct a racing meeting in the southern zone.
(b)CA Business & Professions Code § 19549.17(b) A racing meeting licensed to the fair pursuant to subdivision (a) may be operated by the fair, or the fair may contract for the operation and management of the racing meeting with an individual racing association that was previously licensed to conduct a racing meeting.