California's Back in the Race.SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 30, 1996--With his signature of Senate Bill 2000 (Maddy), Governor Wilson gave a clear indication of his administration's renewed commitment to supporting and strengthening California's struggling horse racing horse racing, trials of speed involving two or more horses. It includes races among harnessed horses with one of two particular gaits, among saddled Thoroughbreds (or, less frequently, quarterhorses) on a flat track, or among saddled horses over a turf course with industry. SB 2000 is a major first step in addressing the license fee inequities faced by California's horse racing industry which pays a greater license fee than any other state in the union. Following the bipartisan vote of 36 to 1 in the Senate, Senator Ken Maddy, the bill's author, said the passage of SB 2000 was historic and long overdue. "This is the first time in recent history that all the diverse interests in horse racing -- owners, breeders, trainers, jockeys and the labor unions labor union: see union, labor. which serve the horse racing industry -- put aside their differences to join together for the good of the industry." Declaring this the beginning of the comeback for horse racing in California, Norm Towne, executive director of the Federation of California Racing Associations noted, "This legislation is just the beginning of our industry working together, achieving parity with the other major horse racing states in the country and improving the business climate for horse racing. "By signing SB 2000, Governor Wilson has put the other states on notice that California is serious about saving its horse racing industry which provides more than 30,000 jobs to men and women throughout the state." Echoing Towne's sentiment was Greg Gilchrist, a prominent Northern California Northern California, sometimes referred to as NorCal, is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The region contains the San Francisco Bay Area, the state capital, Sacramento; as well as the substantial natural beauty of the redwood forests, the northern trainer, who agreed saying, "For those of us who work in the backstretch back·stretch n. The part of an oval racecourse farthest from the spectators and opposite the homestretch. and have seen the decline in the number of horses, we hope this will trigger the resurgence of California's horse racing industry." In Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, , Leigh Ann Howard
Ann Howard lives and writes on the Hawkesbury River, New South Wales with her partner is Robert Bickerstaff. , general manager of Valley Creek Farm added, "The enactment of this legislation is tantamount tan·ta·mount adj. Equivalent in effect or value: a request tantamount to a demand. [From obsolete tantamount, an equivalent, from Anglo-Norman to a decree by the Governor and Legislature that California is not going to simply stand by and watch as other states take our revenues and jobs." Maddy concluded saying there was still work to do to achieve parity with the other states. "The Legislature is just beginning to understand the variety and importance of the contributions provided to California's economy from the horse racing industry. Competition from other states has been driving some of our best breeders, owners and trainers to take their horses to Kentucky, Washington and elsewhere." Governor Wilson made note of this fact in his signing statement A signing statement is a written proclamation issued by the government executive power that accompanies the signing of a law passed by the government's legislature. Historically their main use is for rhetorical or political proclamations. by indicating that this commitment to the horse racing industry is necessary to ensure the continued competitiveness of California horse racing. With more than 3,000 jobs lost in recent years, there was overwhelming support for legislation to strengthen the horse racing industry. The effort was led in the Assembly by Assemblyman as·sem·bly·man n. A man who is a member of a legislative assembly. assemblyman Noun pl -men a member of a legislative assembly Noun 1. Bill Hoge and spearheaded in the Senate by Maddy. CONTACT: Federation of California Racing Associations Inc. Norm Towne, 916/449-6820 |
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