What's happening
This bill creates a fund for the responsible retirement of racehorses in New York, financed by fees and revenues from horse racing and gaming.
Why it matters
Establishes a dedicated funding stream. for the long-term care and retirement of racehorses, by diverting a portion of revenue from gaming, race purses, and breeding fees—ensuring the industry itself helps finance horse welfare beyond their racing careers.
Creates oversight and accountability. , as only horse retirement and rescue programs approved by the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets—based on economic sustainability, stability, and commitment to animal care—can receive funding, reducing the risk of mismanagement and supporting reputable organizations.
Imposes a new horse registration fee. , further tying financial responsibility for retired racehorses to those who profit from the industry, and potentially encouraging better tracking and planning for horses’ post-racing lives.
Broadens the definition of racehorses eligible for support. to include not only retired racers but also horses bred for racing that never competed, addressing a wider spectrum of animal welfare concerns within the racing and breeding ecosystem.
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Who cares
- Likely support
Nonprofit horse retirement and rescue programs
Approved tax-exempt programs would be eligible for funding to support retirement of thoroughbreds and standardbreds, including horses bred to race that never competed.
Racetracks, Resorts World Casino New York City and racing purse recipients
The bill would direct one-half of one percent of video lottery gaming commissions and one-half of one percent of purses at New York tracks to the retirement fund.
Horse breeders and horse registrants
The bill would redirect portions of two breeding funds’ revenues to retirement support and require the agriculture and New York State horse breeding development fund to establish a horse registration fee.
Department of Agriculture and Markets
The commissioner would approve eligible rescue programs based on financial sustainability, long-term stability and horse care, and certify or approve payments from the fund.
Headline styles
Fund Racehorse Retirement Programs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to ways and means
- Referred to ways and means
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.
Protect Retired Racehorses Fund
In Senate Committee · Finance · Sponsor Kenneth P. LaValle
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
894
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 14, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GLICK, L. ROSENTHAL, COOK, GOTTFRIED, FAHY -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. SIMON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
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
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 95-j to read as follows:
§ 95-j. Responsible retirement of racehorses fund. 1. There is hereby established in the sole custody of the commissioner of taxation and finance a special fund to be known as the "responsible retirement of racehorses fund". Monies in the fund shall be kept separate from and not commingled with other funds held in the sole custody of the commissioner of taxation and finance.
2. (a) Such fund shall consist of all revenues received by the department of taxation and finance pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subdivision and all other money appropriated, credited, or transferred thereto from any other fund or source pursuant to law. Nothing contained herein shall prevent the state from receiving grants, gifts or bequests for the purposes of the fund as defined in this section and depositing them into the fund according to law.
(b) The sources of the "responsible retirement of racehorses fund" shall be as follows:
(i) one-half of one percent of the commissions from video lottery gaming revenue from New York's tracks and Resorts World Casino New York City and any video lottery gaming added after this section shall have become a law;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05045-01-9
A. 894 2
(ii) one-half of one percent of all purses at the New York state tracks;
(iii) five percent of the New York state thoroughbred breeding and development fund annual revenue; and
(iv) ten percent of fees generated by the agriculture and New York state horse breeding development fund pursuant to section three hundred thirty of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law.
3. The moneys in said account shall be retained by the fund and shall be payable from the fund by the commissioner of taxation and finance on vouchers certified or approved by the commissioner of agriculture and markets or his or her designee and only for the purposes set forth in this section.
4. The moneys in such fund shall be expended for the purpose of supporting responsible horse retirement of thoroughbreds and standardbreds in New York state. Eligible horse retirement and rescue programs are those approved by the commissioner of agriculture and markets.
§ 2. Section 330 of the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
6. The fund is directed to establish a horse registration fee for each horse registered pursuant to this chapter, with the proceeds of such fee to be credited to the fund.
§ 3. The agriculture and markets law is amended by adding a new section 381 to read as follows:
§ 381. Responsible retirement of racehorses. 1. The commissioner shall compile a list of approved horse retirement and rescue programs eligible to receive funding from the responsible retirement of racehorses fund established pursuant to section ninety-five-j of the state finance law. The eligibility of a rescue program shall be determined 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 such other factors as the commissioner shall deem appropriate after consultation with the farm bureau, horse breeder associations and societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals and humane societies. All approved rescues must be non-profit organizations which are tax-exempt pursuant to the provisions of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
2. For purposes of this section the term racehorse shall include a horse whose racing career has concluded or a horse that was bred to race but has never competed in a race.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.