What's happening
This bill extends the increased purse withholding rate for horse racing from 2018 to 2019 for payments to horsemen's organizations.
Why it matters
Continues increased funding for horsemen’s organizations. By extending the higher 2% purse withholding rate for another year, the bill ensures these organizations maintain elevated funding, which can support their operational stability and programming.
Sustains investment in equine science and safety. The law mandates that a portion of the withheld funds continue to support a state college equine science program for steroid testing in horses, helping to promote animal welfare and integrity in the sport.
Supports backstretch worker services. The bill requires ongoing financial support for organizations serving backstretch employees—essential but often overlooked workers—helping improve their working conditions and access to services.
Impacts distribution of race winnings. The continuation of the higher withholding rate means that, for another year, a greater share of purses will be redirected from individual race winners to collective horsemen’s interests, potentially affecting owners’ and trainers’ net earnings.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Extend Horsemen Payment Period
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 42
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Substituted by A9687
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.406
- Referred to racing, gaming and wagering
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.
Extend Horsemen Payment Period
Signed by Governor · Sponsor J. Gary Pretlow
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7602
IN SENATE
January 30, 2018
Introduced by Sen. BONACIC -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering
AN ACT to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in relation to certain payments to the horsemen's organization
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The opening paragraph of subdivision 2 of section 228 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, as amended by chapter 111 of the laws of 2017, is amended to read as follows:
The New York state gaming commission shall, as a condition of racing, require any franchised corporation and every other corporation subject to its jurisdiction to withhold one percent of all purses, except that for the franchised corporation, starting on September first, two thousand seven and continuing through August thirty-first, two thousand [eighteen] nineteen, two percent of all purses shall be withheld, and, in the case of the franchised corporation, to pay such sum to the horsemen's organization or its successor that was first entitled to receive payments pursuant to this section in accordance with rules of the commission adopted effective November third, nineteen hundred eighty-three representing at least fifty-one percent of the owners and trainers utilizing the facilities of such franchised corporation, on the condition that such horsemen's organization shall expend as much as is necessary, but not to exceed one-half of one percent of such total sum, to acquire and maintain the equipment required to establish a program at a state college within this state with an approved equine science program to test for the presence of steroids in horses, provided further that the qualified organization shall also, in an amount to be determined by its board of directors, annually include in its expenditures for benevolence programs, funds to support an organization providing services necessary to backstretch employees, and, in the case of every other corporation, to pay such one percent sum of purses to the horsemen's organization or its successor that was first entitled to receive payments pursuant to this section in accordance with rules of
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09151-02-8
S. 7602 2
the commission adopted effective May twenty-third, nineteen hundred eighty-six representing at least fifty-one percent of the owners and trainers utilizing the facilities of such corporation.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 certain payments to the horsemen's organ- ization
Purpose
The purpose of this legislation is to extend the authority of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association to receive an additional 1.0% of purse funds for the support of additional medical and mental health services for backstretch employees.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends the opening paragraph of subdivision 2 of section 228 of the Racing Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law to extend, for one year, the authorization for the horsemen's organization to receive an additional 1.0% of purse monies collected from race meetings at Aque- duct, Saratoga, and Belmont racetracks until August 31, 2019.
Section 2. Effective date.
Justification
For over half a century, the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Associ- ation (NYTHA) has represented the interests of horse owners and trainers at New York Racing Association (NYRA) tracks. NYTHA was founded with the objective of serving as a collective voice for the broad interests of Thoroughbred owners and trainers, and to improve and increase the effec- tiveness of its constituents in the day-to-day activities of racing.
Today, NYTHA serves as the New York State Gaming Commission recognized representative of owners and trainers, and has taken a primary role in the New York horseracing industry. NYTHA strives to protect the economic interests of all horsemen and to gain public recognition of horseracing as a vital form of entertainment, deserving support, protection and preservation. In the past, additional purse monies received by NYTHA have been used to provide funding support for the Equine Drug Testing program. This bill would also allow the organization to continue provid- ing much needed health and dental benefits for backstretch employees.
Prior legislative history
Similar bills extending this authority were passed in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
Fiscal implications
None to State.
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.