81R8956 PMO-D
By: Hilderbran H.B. No. 3839
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing the Texas Derby.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The Texas Racing Act (Article 179e, Vernon's
Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by adding Article 9A to read as
follows:
ARTICLE 9A. TEXAS DERBY
Sec. 9A.001. TEXAS DERBY. (a) The commission shall
establish the Texas Derby as an annual grade 1 stakes race of
Texas-bred thoroughbred and quarter horses in this state.
(b) The commission shall set the date of and the location
for the Texas Derby. The Texas Derby must be held annually at one of
the class 1 racetracks in this state on a rotating basis as
determined by the commission.
(c) Not later than January 1, 2010, the commission shall
establish the annual rotation for the location of the Texas Derby by
conducting a blind drawing of the names of each class 1 racetrack in
this state. This subsection expires January 1, 2011.
Sec. 9A.002. QUALIFYING RACES. (a) The commission shall
establish two annual races of Texas-bred thoroughbred and quarter
horses to qualify horses for entry into the Texas Derby.
(b) The commission shall establish for each qualifying
race:
(1) the date on which each race will be conducted,
provided the date is not the same for each race; and
(2) the class 1 racetrack where each qualifying race
will be conducted, provided that each race is conducted at a
different racetrack in a county with a population of at least two
million or adjacent to a county with a population of at least two
million.
(c) A horse is not eligible to run in a qualifying race or
the Texas Derby unless the horse:
(1) is a Texas-bred thoroughbred or quarter horse; and
(2) is not more than three years of age.
(d) A horse that finishes first, second, or third in a race
under this section qualifies to run in the Texas Derby race
established under Section 9A.001 of this Act.
Sec. 9A.003. INSPECTION AND EXAMINATION OF HORSE. (a) For
each qualifying race conducted under Section 9A.002 of this Act and
for the Texas Derby, the commission shall appoint a veterinarian to
supervise the inspection and examination of each horse entered in
the race to determine whether the horse is qualified to participate
in the race.
(b) The commission, in consultation with veterinarians,
shall by rule establish a list of documentation that must be
presented to the veterinarian appointed under Subsection (a) of
this section for each race to demonstrate that the horse is
qualified to run in the race.
Sec. 9A.004. TEXAS DERBY PURSE FUND. (a) The commission
shall establish a Texas Derby purse fund.
(b) The commission shall annually contribute $3 million to
the Texas Derby purse fund from money allocated and available to the
commission for any purpose, including money specifically dedicated
to purse funds.
(c) A horse racing association conducting a qualifying race
under Section 9A.002 of this Act or the Texas Derby shall:
(1) collect an entry fee from each owner of a horse
entered in the race; and
(2) remit to the commission a portion of the fees in
the amount determined by the commission to ensure that the purse for
the Texas Derby is at least $5 million, including the amount
contributed by the commission.
(d) The commission shall adopt rules for accounting, audit,
and distribution of money from the Texas Derby purse fund to winners
of the race.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.