Honor Rick Violette's Retirement

Assembly Resolution No. 740 BY: M. of A. Pretlow COMMENDING Rick Violette upon the occasion of his retirement after nine years of distinguished service as President of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to acknowledge those individuals whose professional lives and civic endeavors serve to enhance the stature of the State of New York; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Rick Violette upon the occasion of his retirement after nine years of distinguished service as President of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association; and WHEREAS, For more than two decades, Rick Violette has served on the Board of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NYTHA), an organization which represents the interests of thoroughbred owners and trainers at New York Racing Association (NYRA) tracks; and WHEREAS, Installed as President in 2008, Rick Violette implemented a serious budget process and, as a result, the organization is now able to put substantial funds into benevolence work, including support of the Backstretch Employee Service Team (BEST) backstretch health care program, scholarships for children of backstretch workers and thoroughbred retirement and retraining; and WHEREAS, Under the able leadership of Rick Violette, the BEST program has grown into a more comprehensive medical care effort for backstretch workers; the program now runs free walk-in clinics at Belmont and Saratoga, helps pay workers' health insurance premiums, and offers specialist and hospital care for those without insurance; and WHEREAS, Throughout his illustrious tenure, Rick Violette established such initiatives as the Jockey Injury Compensation Fund, a separate worker's compensation pool that covers exercise riders and jockeys on New York tracks; and WHEREAS, Rick Violette has also been a steadfast and effective supporter of the raceday use of Lasix, which reduces fluid levels in horses, reduces weight and lowers blood pressure; and WHEREAS, In addition to serving as President of NYTHA, Rick Violette has been President of the national THA, a group of horsemen's associations mainly in the mid-Atlantic, where he has been instrumental in promoting better and more uniform drug regulation; and WHEREAS, For the past 25 years, Rick Violette rendered faithful, conscientious and valuable service to the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association; and WHEREAS, In his capacity as President, Rick Violette served with loyalty, honor and distinction, earning the admiration, esteem and affection of his colleagues; and WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that those who enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Rick Violette upon the occasion of his retirement after nine years of distinguished service as President of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, and to wish him well in all his future endeavors; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Rick Violette.