SB-397 • 2026

Horse racing: thoroughbred racing.

Firearms

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Strickland
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details on how these changes will impact horse racing events or industry practices beyond legal requirements.

Horse Racing Rules Change

The bill changes rules about thoroughbred and Appaloosa horses participating in quarter horse races and adjusts the claiming price for thoroughbred races.

What This Bill Does

Changes the rule that allows thoroughbred and Appaloosa horses to enter quarter horse races, removing the distance limit of less than 5 furlongs.
Increases the maximum claiming price for thoroughbred races from $5,000 to $6,000.

Who It Names or Affects

Horse racing associations and tracks licensed by the California Horse Racing Board
Owners of thoroughbred and quarter horses

Terms To Know

Claiming price: The maximum amount a horse can be bought for during a race.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how these changes will affect horse racing events or industry practices beyond the legal requirements.
It is unclear if this change will lead to more thoroughbred horses participating in quarter horse races.

Bill History

2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2025-04-02 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on G.O.
2025-03-24 California Legislative Information
From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-02-26 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on RLS.
2025-02-18 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 17.
2025-02-14 California Legislative Information
Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Official Summary Text

SB 397, as amended,
Jones
Strickland.
Firearms.
Horse racing: thoroughbred racing.
Existing law authorizes the California Horse Racing Board to regulate horse racing and parimutuel wagering on horse races in California, and authorizes the board to set the standards for the types of races that may be run and the types of horses that may be run, within statutory guidelines. Existing law authorizes the board to grant licenses to an association other than a fair for only one type of racing, but provides an exception for the board to authorize thoroughbred and Appaloosa horses to enter in quarter horse races shorter than 5 furlongs at specified meetings, subject to specified conditions.
This bill would change the above-described exception to instead authorize thoroughbred and Appaloosa horses to enter in quarter horse races at any distance.
Existing law authorizes an association licensed to conduct quarter horse racing to apply to the board for, and requires the board to grant, authority to conduct thoroughbred racing as part of its racing program if specified conditions are met, including that the thoroughbred races are for a claiming price of not more than $5,000, and at a distance of 4.5 furlongs or less.
This bill would change the above-described condition to instead provide that the thoroughbred races are for a claiming price of not more than $6,000, at any distance.
Existing law generally regulates deadly weapons, including firearms, and defines the term “firearm” for this purpose.
This bill would make a technical, nonsubstantive change to those provisions.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF