Horse racing: Breeders' Cup World Championship series: payment of purses.

Existing law, the Horse Racing Law, generally provides for the distribution of funds collected from wagers on horse racing in California. In years that the Breeders' Cup World Championship series is conducted at a race meeting in California, existing law requires that specified amounts that would have otherwise been distributed to a purse account be made available to promote and sponsor the Breeders' Cup. A violation of the Horse Racing Law, where no other penalty is expressed, is a misdemeanor. This bill would instead specify that those amounts shall be made available to the organization operating the Breeders' Cup World Championship series for the purpose of promoting and supporting the Breeders' Cup, including the payment of purses in Breeders' Cup World Championship races. The bill would provide that the California Horse Racing Board may authorize parimutuel wagering on Breeders' Cup races to be run at the host venue and on one nonthoroughbred race, as specified, and would require amounts from those wagers to be deducted and distributed in accordance with specified provisions. Because a violation of the provisions of the bill would be a misdemeanor, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.