Horse RacingFairs and Expositions
Section § 19540
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.
Section § 19542
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.
Section § 19546
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.
Section § 19547
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.
Section § 19548
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.
Section § 19549
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.
Section § 19549.1
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.
Section § 19549.2
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.
Section § 19549.4
Section § 19549.6
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.
Section § 19549.7
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.
Section § 19549.9
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.
Section § 19549.12
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.
Section § 19549.13
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.
Section § 19549.14
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.
Section § 19549.15
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.
Section § 19549.16
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.
Section § 19549.17
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.