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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishing the Texas Derbies. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The Texas Racing Act (Article 179e, Vernon's |
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Texas Civil Statutes) is amended by adding Article 9A to read as |
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follows: |
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ARTICLE 9A. TEXAS DERBIES |
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Sec. 9A.001. TEXAS DERBIES. (a) The commission shall |
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establish as Texas Derbies the following annual stakes races: |
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(1) one race open to three-year-old Thoroughbreds; |
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(2) one race open only to three-year-old Texas-bred |
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Thoroughbreds; |
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(3) one race open to three-year-old quarter horses; |
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and |
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(4) one race open only to three-year-old Texas-bred |
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quarter horses. |
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(b) For a Texas Derby open only to Texas-bred horses, the |
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respective official state breed registries and the official |
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horsemen's organization shall develop: |
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(1) the race conditions and entrance qualifications; |
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and |
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(2) the preference system used to determine the race |
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finalists. |
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(c) Each class 1 racetrack that is awarded a Texas Derby |
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that is not limited to Texas-bred horses shall develop for the |
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derby: |
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(1) the race conditions and entrance qualifications; |
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and |
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(2) the preference system used to determine the race |
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finalists. |
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(d) The race conditions and qualifications and preference |
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systems developed for the Texas Derbies under Subsection (b) or (c) |
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of this section are subject to review and approval by the executive |
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secretary. |
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(e) The commission shall set the date of and the location |
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for each Texas Derby. Each Texas Derby must be held annually at the |
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class 1 racetrack determined by the commission. The commission |
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shall determine the location of each Texas Derby in consultation |
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with: |
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(1) each class 1 racetrack; |
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(2) the official state breed registries; and |
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(3) the official horsemen's organization. |
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(f) The date of the initial Texas Derby may not be earlier |
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than January 1, 2015. This subsection expires January 1, 2016. |
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Sec. 9A.002. INSPECTION AND EXAMINATION OF HORSE. (a) For |
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each Texas Derby, the commission shall appoint a state veterinarian |
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to conduct a prerace examination of each horse entered in the race |
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to determine whether the horse is healthy and meets standards set by |
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commission rule for racing. |
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(b) The examination may include any procedure that the state |
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veterinarian considers necessary to make the determination |
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required by Subsection (a) of this section. |
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(c) The examination may be conducted at any time before the |
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race. |
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Sec. 9A.003. TEXAS DERBY ESCROW PURSE FUND. The commission |
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shall establish a Texas Derby escrow purse fund. |
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SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 9A.003, Texas Racing Act |
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(Article 179e, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), as added by this |
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Act, the Texas Racing Commission may not contribute any money to the |
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Texas Derby escrow purse fund before January 1, 2015. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |