Bill Text: CA ACR161 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: California Chrome: thoroughbred horse racing.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 52-22)

Status: (Passed) 2014-09-09 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 159, Statutes of 2014. [ACR161 Detail]

Download: California-2013-ACR161-Introduced.html

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BILL NUMBER: ACR 161	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Conway and Logue

                        JUNE 11, 2014

   Relative to horse racing.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 161, as introduced, Conway. Horse racing: California Chrome.
   This measure would recognize the performance of California Chrome
during his run for horse racing's Triple Crown, including his
victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, would
recognize and congratulate the many Californians who are part of his
ownership group, breeding and training cadre, and other essential
elements that led to the success of California Chrome, and would
recognize the history of horse racing in California and its
contributions to job creation and the state's economy.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, Few California-bred horses may claim to winning any one
of the Triple Crown races - the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness Stakes,
and the Belmont Stakes - as 1,800 foals are born in California
compared to 20,000 foals in Kentucky; and
   WHEREAS, Four "California-bred" horses, including a horse named
California Chrome, may boast a Kentucky Derby win, and no California
horse has won the Triple Crown; and
   WHEREAS, California Chrome's upbringing is a story that embodies
the very best of California's horse racing traditions and landscape
as he was foaled in the horse breeding division of Harris Ranch, the
state's largest beef producer; and
   WHEREAS, California Chrome's mother, Love the Chase, was an
unfortunate racing filly purchased by Steve Coburn of Topaz Lake,
Nevada and Perry Martin of Yuba City, who together own Martin Testing
Laboratories located at the McClellan Business Park in Sacramento;
and
   WHEREAS, Mr. Coburn and Mr. Martin purchased Love the Chase
outright for a paltry sum of $8,000, a transaction that prompted
someone to say that "only a fool would buy Love the Chase," and, as
such, Mr. Coburn and Mr. Perry formed a company aptly named Dumb Ass
Partners, or DAP; and
   WHEREAS, DAP retired Love the Chase in 2009, bred her with the
equally unimpressive Lucky Pulpit, and together the two horses sired
California Chrome, who was born in 2011 with four white stockings and
a white stripe down his face, features that horse aficionados call
"chrome"; and
   WHEREAS, California Chrome bears many unique characteristics,
including him appearing to deliberately stop and pose for cameras as
he hears them clicking while walking in the stable area, which
prompted his exercise rider, Willie Delgado, to give him an
additional nickname, "Vogue"; and
   WHEREAS, Another unusual characteristic is that California Chrome
refuses to walk forward out of horse vans when the transport vehicle
is designed for a forward exit, preferring to back out instead; and
   WHEREAS, As a two-year-old, California Chrome raced several times
at Los Angeles' Hollywood Park, San Diego's Del Mar Racetrack, and
Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, where he won some races and finished
sixth in others; and
   WHEREAS, Jockey Victor Espinoza and California Chrome had been
unstoppable together, with a six-race winning streak that included
the Golden State Juvenile Stakes, California Cup Derby, the San
Felipe Stakes, and the Santa Anita Derby; and
   WHEREAS, The pair dazzled fans during this year's Kentucky Derby
and Preakness Stakes, where California Chrome won by 1 3/4 lengths
and 1 1/2 lengths, respectively; and
   WHEREAS, California Chrome gained nationwide appeal, but the core
of his fan base was centered in the Central Valley of California,
where the Sacramento television market ranked sixth in the nation for
television viewership for the Preakness Stakes, and third in the
nation for the Belmont Stakes; and
   WHEREAS, Local followers of California Chrome in the Central
Valley, also called "Chromies," liked that purple was a color on the
horse's racing silks, similar to the team colors of the Sacramento
Kings; and
   WHEREAS, Eleven horses entered the Belmont Stakes, and California
Chrome drew post position number two, the same post position of
former Triple Crown winner Secretariat in the 1973 Belmont; and
   WHEREAS, Out of the gates, California Chrome was stepped on by the
horse next to him, tearing off a "chunk" of his hoof, yet despite
this most unfortunate occurrence, California Chrome finished in a
dead heat for fourth with Wicked Strong; and
   WHEREAS, As a result of his unique pedigree and remarkable racing
accomplishments, California Chrome has been dubbed "America's Horse,"
has earned over $3.4 million in earnings, and has tremendously
benefited the state's $34 billion horse racing industry; now,
therefore be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes the outstanding
performance of California Chrome during his remarkable run for horse
racing's Triple Crown, and, in particular, for his tremendous
victories in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes; and be it
further
   Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes and congratulates the
many Californians who are part of the ownership group, breeding and
training cadre, and other essential elements that led to the success
of California Chrome; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature recognizes the storied history of
horse racing in California, and horse racing's important
contributions to job creation and the state's economy that result
from a vibrant California horse racing industry; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit a copy of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.