§ 19520. — 19520. (Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 67, Sec. 16.)

(a)
(1)
Every person not required to be licensed under Article 4 (commencing with Section 19480) who participates in, or has anything to do with, the racing of horses in any of the following capacities shall be licensed by the board pursuant to rules and regulations that the board may adopt and upon the payment of a license fee fixed and determined by the board:
(A)
Assistant trainer.
(B)
Association employee.
(C)
Bloodstock agent.
(D)
Corporate officer.
(E)
Driver.
(F)
Exercise rider.
(G)
Farrier.
(H)
Jockey.
(I)
Jockey agent.
(J)
Jockey apprentice.
(K)
Jockey valet.
(L)
Off-track wagering personnel.
(M)
Open claim owner.
(N)
Outrider.
(O)
Owner.
(P)
Parimutuel employee.
(Q)
Pony rider.
(R)
Safety personnel.
(S)
Special event personnel.
(T)
Stable agent.
(U)
Stable foreman.
(V)
Stableworker.
(W)
Stakeholder representative.
(X)
Trainer.
(Y)
Vendor or vendor employee.
(Z)
Veterinarian.
(AA)
Veterinarian assistant.
(2)
Any license issued pursuant to this article shall include a current
photograph of the licensed person.
(b)
A person required to be licensed pursuant to this article shall not participate in any capacity in any horse race meeting without a valid and unrevoked license authorizing the participation.
(c)
The board may adopt regulations to require outrider license applicants to pass both a written and an oral examination and to authorize outriders to exercise the duties and powers of the board set forth in Section 19440 as are delegated by the board.
(d)
For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1)
“Assistant trainer” means a person employed by a trainer that has passed the board-issued trainer’s examination but fails to meet the board’s minimum qualifications for a trainer’s license.
(2)
“Association employee” means a person hired by a racing association that has access to the licensed inclosure. An “association employee” includes management of the racetrack and persons hired to work as maintenance, food service, media, security, and racing staff.
(3)
“Bloodstock agent” means a person who for gain, gratuity, commission, or reward, in either money or goods, acts as an agent for the sale or purchase of any racehorse not their own that is eligible to race at an authorized race meeting in the state.
(4)
“Corporate officer” means an officer, director, or partner, or an individual who holds 5 percent or more of outstanding shares, of an advance deposit wagering, mini-satellite wagering provider, simulcast service supplier, or totalizer company.
(5)
“Driver” means a person who drives and controls the horse from a seated position on a two-wheel sulky.
(6)
“Exercise rider” means a person mounted and exercising a horse within a licensed inclosure.
(7)
“Farrier” means a person responsible for shoeing and caring for equine hooves. A “farrier” is also interchangeably referred to as a “horseshoer” or “plater.”
(8)
“Jockey” means a race rider.
(9)
“Jockey agent” means a person who represents a jockey whose main responsibility is to arrange and book mounts.
(10)
“Jockey apprentice” means a race rider who otherwise meets the license qualifications of a jockey, but has not ridden the requisite number of winners, as established
by the board.
(11)
“Jockey valet” means a person responsible for preparing both jockey and horse for racing.
(12)
“Off-track wagering personnel” means a person employed at an off-track simulcast wagering facility or a person employed to represent an organization overseeing off-track wagering at a simulcast location pursuant to section 19608.2.
(13)
“Open-claim owner” means a prospective owner of a horse entered into a claiming race.
(14)
“Outrider” means a person responsible for providing a safe environment during training or racing.
(15)
“Owner” means the owner, part owner, or lessee of a horse. An interest only in the earnings of a horse does not constitute ownership.
(16)
“Parimutuel employee” means a person hired to work for the company licensed to accept wagers on the outcome of a horse race. A “parimutuel employee” includes totalizer technicians and those persons employed by a licensed totalizer company.
(17)
“Pony rider” means a person riding a pony horse on training or race days.
(18)
“Safety personnel” means a person hired to provide security, medical services, or emergency services within a racing inclosure.
(19)
“Special event personnel” means a person who works for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships when the event is held at a board-licensed racing facility or a person who is otherwise hired for a temporary racing event.
(20)
“Stable agent”
means a person who is the authorized representative of a stable or an owner that may act on their behalf in managing the schedule of races.
(21)
“Stable foreman” means a person in charge of daily operations in a racing stable.
(22)
“Stableworker” means a person employed at the operation of a stable at a board-licensed inclosure that is not more specifically described by another classification. This classification includes those who feed, groom, exercise, train, and conduct general care of horses.
(23)
“Stakeholder representative” means a person whose constituents are located within a licensed inclosure. This includes clergy, union representatives, and representatives from state-recognized organizations of trainers or horsepersons.
(24)
“Trainer” means a
person who has passed the board’s trainer’s examination and otherwise meets the board’s qualifications for licensure as established pursuant to regulation.
(25)
“Vendor or vendor employee” means a person who provides goods or services related to horse racing at a facility licensed by the board. A “vendor” includes persons who access the licensed inclosure for the purpose of delivering equine supplies or transporting equines and maintenance workers, media, food service staff, jockey room staff, and stable staff.
(26)
“Veterinarian” means a California-licensed veterinarian.
(27)
“Veterinarian assistant” means a person employed by a board-licensed veterinarian.

Legislative History

Amended by Stats. 2025, Ch. 67, Sec. 16. (AB 1170) Effective January 1, 2026.