Creates the responsible retirement of racehorses fund; horse registration fee

BILL NUMBER:S4415

Title of bill

An act to amend the state finance law, in relation to the creation of the responsible retirement of racehorses fund; to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in relation to a horse registration fee; and to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the responsible retirement of racehorses

Purpose

To amend the state finance law, in relation to the creation of the responsible retirement of racehorses fund; to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in relation to a horse registration fee; and to amend the agriculture and markets law, in relation to the responsible retirement of racehorses.

Summary of provisions

Horses in the United States are not bred for human consumption but for sporting and recreational activities, this is what differentiates them from livestock such as pigs and cattle. Horses are routinely given drugs that are banned in animals that are bound for slaughter for food. One of these is Phenlybrutazone, which has been banned for human consumption by the FDA as it has been found to cause blood dyscrasias, including aplastic anemia, leucopenia, agranulicytosis and thrombocytopenia and can be fatal. Horses are not tested to ensure that they do not have these drugs in their systems when they are being slaughtered.

This bill seeks to amend the state finance law by adding a new section pertaining to the responsible retirement of racehorses. The fund will be expended for the purpose of supporting responsible horse retirement of thoroughbreds and standard-breds by allotting the moneys to designated horse retirement and rescue programs. The eligibility of such programs will be determined by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets and based upon: the economic sustainability of the rescue; the rescue's long term stability, the rescue's demonstration of an ongoing commitment to the proper care of horses; and other such factors as the Commissioner deems appropriate. Such programs must be non-profit organizations which are tax exempt.

The bill stipulates these sources shall contribute to the fund: one half of one percent will come from commissions from video lottery gaming revenue from New York State's Tracks and Resorts World Casino and any video lottery gaming added after this section shall become a law; one half of one percent of all purses at the New York State tracks; five percent of the New York State thoroughbred breeding and development fund annual revenue; and ten percent of fees generated by the agriculture and New York State horse breeding development fund. Defines a racehorse as any horse whose racing career has concluded or a horse that was bred to race but has never competed in a race.

Justification

Too many racehorses are bred each year simply because they are disposable once their racing career is done. For this reason, a fund must be established in order to responsibly retire racehorses as

alternative to slaughter. This bill is based on the recommendations of the New York State Task Force on Retired Racehorses, which was created by the NYS Legislature as a means to protect and enforce the humane treatment of horses.

Legislative history

2013-2014 A.8997A

Fiscal implications

To be determined.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.