Horse racing: thoroughbred racing.

Senator Strickland's horse racing legislation aims to expand the types of races where thoroughbred and Appaloosa horses can compete alongside quarter horses in California, removing existing distance restrictions while adjusting claiming price limits for mixed-breed events.

The measure modifies two key provisions governing mixed-breed racing. First, it allows thoroughbred and Appaloosa horses to enter quarter horse races at any distance, eliminating the current limitation to races shorter than five furlongs. Second, for quarter horse associations conducting thoroughbred races, the maximum claiming price increases from $5,000 to $6,000, and the previous 4.5-furlong distance cap no longer applies.

Several conditions remain unchanged under the proposal. Quarter horse races must still be designated as "quarter horse preferred," and more than half of any racing program must feature quarter horses in races up to 550 yards, unless the quarter horse horsemen's organization agrees otherwise. The bill maintains requirements for associations to contribute one percent of thoroughbred purse funds to backstretch personnel pension plans and to divide welfare fund contributions proportionally between thoroughbred and quarter horse organizations based on participation rates.