Senate BillPassed first houseBusiness and Professions
SB 1294: Horse racing: out-of-state thoroughbred races: Japan Cup.
What SB 1294 does, verified August 5, 2026
The bill aims to allow thoroughbred racing associations and fairs to distribute the audiovisual signal and accept wagers on the results of out-of-state thoroughbred races, including those from Japan, without the consent of horsemen and horsewomen participating in the race meeting. Currently, there is a daily limit of 75 imported races, but this limit does not apply to races imported as part of the Japan Cup. The proposed bill would exempt these Japan Cup races from the daily limit, allowing more races to be imported and wagered on.
Bill journey
✓IntroducedComplete
✓In CommitteeComplete
✓First Chamber FloorComplete
4Second ChamberCurrent
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: Ordered to inactive file on request of Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry. (2026-08-03)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions17 total · showing 5
| Aug. 03, 2026 | Ordered to inactive file on request of Assembly Member Aguiar-Curry. |
| Jul. 02, 2026 | Ordered to third reading. |
| Jul. 02, 2026 | From consent calendar on motion of Assembly Member Garcia. |
| Jun. 29, 2026 | Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar. |
| Jun. 25, 2026 | From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 19. Noes 0.) (June 24). |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, February 20, 2026 · 687 words
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 1294
| Introduced by Senator Rubio |
February 20, 2026 |
An act to amend Section 19596.2 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to horse racing.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1294, as introduced, Rubio. Horse racing: out-of-state thoroughbred races: Japan Cup.
Existing law authorizes a thoroughbred racing association or fair to distribute the audiovisual signal and accept wagers on the results of out-of-state thoroughbred races conducted in the United States during the calendar period the association or fair is conducting a race meeting, including days on which there is no live racing being conducted by the association or fair, without the consent of the organization that represents horsemen and horsewomen participating in the race meeting and without regard to the amount of purses. Existing law prohibits the total number of thoroughbred races imported by associations or fairs on a statewide basis under these provisions from exceeding 75 races per day on days when live thoroughbred or fair racing is being conducted in the state, with the exception of prescribed races.
This bill would exempt from the 75 imported race per day limitation, races imported that are part of the race card of the Japan Cup.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 19596.2 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:19596.2.
(a) Notwithstanding any other law and except as provided in Section 19596.4, a thoroughbred racing association or fair may distribute the audiovisual signal and accept wagers on the results of out-of-state thoroughbred races conducted in the United States during the calendar period the association or fair is conducting a race meeting, including days on which there is no live racing being conducted by the association or fair, without the consent of the organization that represents horsemen and horsewomen participating in the race meeting and without regard to the amount of purses. Further, the total number of thoroughbred races imported by associations or fairs on a statewide basis under this section shall not exceed 75 per day on days when live thoroughbred or fair racing is being conducted in the state. The limitation of 75 imported races per day does not apply to any of the following:(1) Races imported for wagering purposes pursuant to subdivision (c).
(2) Races imported that are part of the race card of the Kentucky Derby, the Kentucky Oaks, the Preakness Stakes, the Belmont Stakes, the Jockey Club Gold Cup, the Travers Stakes, the Pegasus World Cup, the Japan Cup, the Arlington Million, the Breeders’ Cup World Championship, the Dubai World Cup, the Arkansas Derby, the Apple Blossom Handicap, the Blue Grass Stakes, the Whitney Stakes, or the Haskell Invitational.
(3) Races imported into the northern zone when there is no live thoroughbred or fair racing being conducted in the northern zone.
(4) Races imported into the combined central and southern zones when there is no live thoroughbred or fair racing being conducted in the combined central and southern zones.
(b) Any thoroughbred association or fair accepting wagers pursuant to subdivision (a) shall conduct the wagering in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 19601, 19616, 19616.1, and 19616.2.
(c) Except as provided in subdivision (d), a thoroughbred association or fair shall not accept wagers pursuant to this section on out-of-state races commencing after 7 p.m., Pacific standard time, without the consent of the harness or quarter horse racing association that is then conducting a live racing meeting in the County of Orange or the County of Sacramento.
(d) When the total number of thoroughbred races imported by associations or fairs on a statewide basis under this section is between 51 and 75 on a day when live thoroughbred or fair racing is being conducted in the state, a thoroughbred association or fair shall not accept wagers pursuant to this section on out-of-state races commencing after 5 p.m., Pacific standard time, without the consent of the harness and quarter horse racing association that is then conducting a live racing meeting in the County of Orange or the County of Sacramento.
Text of SB 1294 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions