This part of the law is officially called the “Horse Racing Law,” which means whenever it's mentioned, it can be referred to by this name.

This law is about allowing betting, called parimutuel wagering, on horse races in California. It aims to protect the public, encourage agriculture and horse breeding, expand horse racing opportunities, and ensure consistent rules for all types of horse racing.

This section explains that the definitions given in the article are what should be used to understand this chapter, unless the situation indicates otherwise.

This section defines the term "Association" as any individual or group that organizes an official horse racing event.

This section defines a 'barrel race' as a type of horse race where horses run around three barrels set up in a triangle. These races might follow rules set by the Women's Professional Rodeo Association, and two races can happen at the same time, called a heat.

This section defines the term "Board" as referring to the California Horse Racing Board, which is part of the Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency.

Breakage is the extra change left over when the winnings on a bet don't round up to the nearest ten cents.

This law defines what qualifies as a "California-bred" horse for different breeds, such as thoroughbreds, quarter horses, and paint horses. A horse is usually considered California-bred if it is born to a mare that foaled in California and met specific breeding criteria. For example, for thoroughbreds, the mare must be bred and foal in California, or stay in the state for subsequent breeding. The law also explains what makes a horse "California-sired," but notes these horses are limited in race entry eligibility and do not receive certain awards.

"Charity days" are special race days given to racing associations where the money made goes to charity. They're part of the regular racing schedule, not separate events.

When this law mentions “executive director,” it's talking about the person who leads the California Horse Racing Board.

The "foaling date" is simply the date a horse is born, as noted on its official registration documents.

This section defines that when they use the term 'Fund', they are referring to the Fair and Exposition Fund.

A 'graded stake' is a way that each country classifies its important horse races involving thoroughbreds, as determined by the country's official body that oversees horse racing.

This section defines what 'claiming race' means in horse racing. It's a type of race where any horse that enters can be 'claimed' or purchased under specific rules set by the board overseeing the races.

A 'stakes race' is a type of horse race where the owners either pay to add money to the prize pool or don’t contribute to the prize but the race is still advertised as a stakes race, with entries closing at least 72 hours before it starts. It can also refer to special invitational races where owners don’t pay to increase the prize.

This section defines a "standardbred horse" as any horse that is registered with the United States Trotting Association. This includes horses from other countries as long as they meet the association's requirements. The term "harness horse" also refers to these standardbred horses.

This section defines harness horse racing as a type of horseracing where standardbred horses pull a two-wheeled cart, called a sulky, and the races specifically involve trotting or pacing gaits.

This law outlines two types of areas at racetracks and similar facilities: 'inclosure-restricted' and 'inclosure-public'. The 'inclosure-restricted' area is secured by barriers and requires special permission to enter. The 'inclosure-public' area is open to everyone and is where people can bet on horse races.

This law defines a 'minisatellite wagering site' as a place where people can bet on races through a satellite connection. The important condition is that only adults aged 21 and over can enter the area where the betting takes place, and the site needs the board's approval to operate.

This law defines a 'show jumping race' as a type of horse race where horses compete over obstacles that can be artificial or made from natural materials. It's a quicker race compared to a steeplechase and involves the conversion of faults into time penalties. The rules for these races can follow those set by the American Horse Shows Association.

Parimutuel wagering is a betting system used for horse races. Bettors either buy tickets or give instructions to place bets on races. The total money bet is pooled together, and after certain amounts are kept for specific reasons, the rest is distributed among those who made winning bets.

The term "handle" refers to the total amount of money that is bet into parimutuel pools, which are betting pools commonly used in horse racing and other events.

This law section defines different types of betting pools within horse racing. A 'conventional parimutuel pool' involves betting on a single horse to win, place, or show. An 'exotic parimutuel pool' involves bets on combinations, such as the order of finishing (like quinella or exacta) or bets across multiple races (like pick six). A 'proposition parimutuel pool' includes bets on certain board-approved propositions based on race outcomes.

This law section defines the term "person" as not just a single human being, but also any business entity like a partnership, corporation, limited liability company, or other forms of organization.

This law section defines "prohibited drug substances" related to horses. It includes any natural or synthetic drugs or chemicals not approved by the board, especially those that can alter the horse's condition or interfere with drug detection. It also covers unapproved substances in the U.S., drugs from overseas, controlled substances listed federally, and those whose approvals are withdrawn.

This law defines a 'Standardbred breeder' as the person who owns the mother horse (dam) when a Standardbred foal is conceived.

This law defines a 'Registered California standardbred stallion' as a male horse that must be registered with two entities: the United States Trotting Association and the official California Standardbred Stallions Registry managed by the California Horse Racing Board or its designated body.

A "Quarter horse" is any horse that meets specific criteria and is officially registered with the American Quarter Horse Association. This includes mares, geldings, colts, and fillies.

This section defines 'quarter horse racing' as a type of horse race involving quarter horses, which are a specific breed, running short distances not longer than five and one-half furlongs with jockeys riding them.

This law defines "racing days" as days when a licensed group is allowed to hold horse races. "Racing weeks" are usually seven days long, with at least five days of racing, but the rules can change if agreed upon by the racing group and horsemen's organization. Less than five racing days can be allowed, especially at the start or end of a racing event, during holidays, or when different types of racing overlap, as long as they don't exceed yearly limits. If racing events are split into different parts, each part is treated as its own separate event for the purposes of scheduling.

This section defines a "split meeting." It's a racing event divided into two parts with at least 45 days between them. One part can last up to 18 weeks, and the other must be at least 4 weeks long. The shorter part is called the "short period."

This section defines what a "steeplechase race" is. It's a type of horse race where horses jump over obstacles that can be made from natural or man-made materials. It also covers types like hurdle and timber races. The rules for these races can follow standards set by the National Steeplechase and Hunt Association.

This law defines a 'Thoroughbred horse' as any horse registered by the Jockey Club of New York. This includes horses like mares, geldings, colts, and fillies, and also allows for racing permits for foreign thoroughbred horses.

An Arabian horse is defined as any horse that meets certain criteria and is officially registered with the Arabian Horse Registry of America, Inc.

This law defines a 'paint horse' as any type of horse, like male or female, young or adult, that is officially recognized and registered with the American Paint Horse Association.

This law defines 'Thoroughbred racing' as a type of horse racing where all horses competing are 'thoroughbreds.' These races are ridden by jockeys on flat tracks and do not involve obstacles like those in steeplechase or hurdle races.

This law defines Appaloosa racing as a specific type of horse racing where each horse must be an Appaloosa breed, raced over a distance ranging from a quarter mile to four miles. The horses are ridden by jockeys and participate in flat racing, which means the racecourse is level.

Arabian racing is a type of horse race where all the horses involved must be Arabian horses. Each horse is ridden by a jockey, and the race itself takes place on a flat track, covering distances between a quarter of a mile and four miles.

This law defines "paint racing" as a type of horse racing where all the horses must be paint horses. The races involve jockeys riding these horses over a flat course that is at least 220 yards long but no longer than four miles.

This law defines what is meant by "fair" or "state-designated fairground" in California, primarily including the California Exposition and State Fair in Sacramento, certain nonprofits, and joint powers agencies that hold annual fairs. These entities can choose to join the network of California fairs if they agree with the California Department of Food and Agriculture on specific terms. The law also mentions that these fairs may participate in horse racing activities approved by the board.

This law section says that if new code rules look a lot like old ones about the same topic, they should be seen as updates or continuations of those old rules, not brand new ones.