What's happening
This bill allows Belmont Park racetrack to hold night races on certain days, with restrictions, for a four-year trial period.
Why it matters
Expands Belmont Park’s flexibility and economic potential. by permitting night races, which could attract new audiences, increase betting revenue, and boost local business activity on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings.
Imposes specific limitations to address community and industry concerns. racing after sunset is only allowed on the main track, must conclude by 10:30 PM, and is limited to certain nights, helping mitigate noise, traffic, and light impact on neighbors.
Requires coordination with Westchester harness racing operators. to avoid overlapping race times, protecting the interests of other regional racing businesses and aiming to balance competition within the local horse racing industry.
Includes a built-in four-year trial period. , allowing policymakers to assess the impact of night racing on the community, industry, and other stakeholders before making the change permanent or extending the provision.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Night Racing at Belmont
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 7
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to racing, gaming and wagering
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to racing and wagering
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 50–12
- Ordered to third reading cal.2143
- Referred to rules
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Allow Night Races at Belmont
In Assembly Committee · Racing And Wagering · Sponsor Michaelle C. Solages
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6753
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 16, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PHILLIPS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in relation to the right to hold race meetings and races at Belmont Park; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 203 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, as amended by chapter 18 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
§ 203. Right to hold race meetings and races. 1. Any corporation formed under the provisions of this article, if so claimed in its certificate of organization, and if it shall comply with all the provisions of this article, and any other corporation entitled to the benefits and privileges of this article as hereinafter provided, shall have the power and the right to hold one or more running race meetings in each year, and to hold, maintain and conduct running races at such meetings. At such running race meetings the corporation, or the owners of horses engaged in such races, or others who are not participants in the race, may contribute purses, prizes, premiums or stakes to be contested for, but no person or persons other than the owner or owners of a horse or horses contesting in a race shall have any pecuniary interest in a purse, prize, premium or stake contested for in such race, or be entitled to or receive any portion thereof after such race is finished, and the whole of such purse, prize, premium or stake shall be allotted in accordance with the terms and conditions of such race. Races conducted by a franchised corporation shall be permitted only between sunrise and sunset.
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a franchised corporation shall be permitted to conduct races after sunset at
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13221-05-7
S. 6753 2
the Belmont Park racetrack, only on the main track in its current configuration, but only if such races conclude before half past ten o'clock post meridian and only if such races occur on Thursdays, Fridays or Saturdays. The franchised corporation shall coordinate with a harness racing association or corporation authorized to operate in Westchester county to ensure that the starting times of all such races are staggered.
3. A track first licensed after January first, nineteen hundred ninety, shall not conduct the simulcasting of thoroughbred races within district one, in accordance with article ten of this chapter on days that a franchised corporation is not conducting a race meeting. In no event shall thoroughbred races conducted by a track first licensed after January first, nineteen hundred ninety be conducted after eight o'clock post meridian.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed 4 years after the first night of racing conducted after sunset pursuant to this act; provided that the New York Racing Association shall notify the legislative bill drafting commission of the date of such night of racing in order that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective data base of the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance of effecting the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and section 70-b of the public officers law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in relation to the right to hold race meetings and races at Belmont Park; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose or general idea of bill
To permit limited night racing at Belmont Park racetrack.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends section 203 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law as amended by Chapter 18 of the Laws of 2008 by adding subdivision 2 which permits a franchised corporation to conduct races after sunset at Belmont Park racetrack, only on the main track in its current configuration, concluding by 10:30 pm and only on Thursdays, Fridays or Saturdays. Additionally, the franchised corporation shall coordinate with the harness racing association or corporation authorized to operate in Westchester County to ensure that starting times of all such races are staggered.
Section 2 of this bill provides that this act shall take effect immediately and sets a repeal date of 4 years after the first night of racing conducted after sunset pursuant to this act.
Justification
The future of successful businesses, including professional sports, is dependent upon our younger generations. Like numerous other sports, horseracing needs to find and recruit new generations of spectators, fans and horse players to secure a long-term future in New York State. This includes catering to fans by providing premier events during non-work hours. Recognizing the success that other venues across the country have had conducting night racing, NYRA intends to conduct racing a few nights a week during the annual Belmont Park meet.
Prior legislative history
This is new legislation.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.