Tuesday, June 18, 2019
Sometimes politicians can be sharp and New York State Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr. is one of the sharpest. Last week Addabbo held a public hearing before two committees of the State Senate that was more reminiscent of a dog and pony show. But this week two bills he sponsored that would benefit New York’s horseracing industry passed in the NYS Senate. One bill will increase protections for horses; the other authorizes the New York State Gaming Commission to participate in the Mid-Atlantic Interstate Equine Testing Drug Compact. Both bills moved to the Assembly, which has until midnight tomorrow to approve, June 19 marking the end of the current legislative session.
Edited press release
From the office of Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr.
Queens, NY, June 17, 2019
One week after the NYS Senate Committee on Racing, Gaming and Wagering and the
Domestic Animal Welfare Committee held a public hearing on the welfare of
racehorses, the Senate passed two bills sponsored by Senator Joseph P. Addabbo,
Jr. to increase protections for racehorses.
The first bill (S.1974-A) establishes the Commission on Retired Racehorses and
the second (S.6142) authorizes the NYS Gaming Commission to participate in the
Mid-Atlantic Interstate Equine Testing Drug Compact. “As chair of the Senate
Racing, Gaming and Wagering Committee and a member of the Domestic Animal
Welfare Committee, I recognize the importance of protecting active and retired
thoroughbreds,” said Addabbo. “With Aqueduct Raceway [cq] in my district, I
appreciate how important the racing industry is to our state’s economy so by
working to reduce racehorse injuries and fatalities, and ensuring that they
receive appropriate and compassionate care when their racing days are over, we
can create a more positive overall racing industry,” Addabbo added.
Addabbo’s bill (S.1974-A) will give the Commission on Retired Racehorses
oversight on the treatment and handling of retired racehorses while maintaining
a registry of retired racehorse owners. The definition of “retired race horses”
includes thoroughbred and standardbred horses registered in NY and no longer
engaged in racing. New owners of retired racehorses must notify the Commission
within 72 hours of any change in ownership or upon the death of a former
racehorse, as certified by a veterinarian. Violations are subject to civil
penalties not to exceed $500. Currently, once a racehorse becomes unprofitable
for owners, there is little oversight on handling of retired horses and many
get sold to international slaughterhouses for human consumption despite having
drugs and medications in their systems not meant for human consumption.
New York is the largest racing jurisdiction within the Mid-Atlantic region that
also includes New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia.
Addabbo’s bill (S.6142) will promote, streamline and allow for uniform adoption
of model Thoroughbred industry medication rules and standards, enhance equine
drug testing, and standardize the ability to maintain the integrity of racing
by protecting the health, safety and welfare of the horse and rider. The
Compact Commission will only propose the adoption of rules that have been
studied, considered, proposed and adopted by the national Racing Medication and
Testing Consortium, which is the racing industry’s “scientific arm” and the
Association of Racing Commissioners International. All Thoroughbred industry
stakeholders will participate in the rules development process. This
legislation was signed into law in Maryland and Delaware.
Both bills passed by the Senate were delivered to the Assembly where they are
being considered. [editor’s note: The Assembly version of the bill, first
introduced in 2015, is A3535.]
By Mark Berner
One Senate bill increases protections for active and retired racehorses and
establishes a five-member commission, which shall be responsible for the
oversight of retired racehorses including the creation of a registry to track
such.
The purpose of the commission is to monitor the whereabouts and treatment of
retired racehorses and to prevent the illegal transport of horses into the
inhumane international slaughter industry.
Most importantly, Addabbo’s bill contains a mandate that the Compact Commission
will only propose the adoption of rules that have been studied, considered,
proposed and adopted by the national Racing Medication and Testing Consortium,
which is the racing industry’s “scientific arm” and the Association of Racing
Commissioners International. This means all Mid-Atlantic racetracks shall be
aligned with RMTC and ARCI model rules.
Dr. Scott Palmer, DVM, testified at the public hearing that after a spate of
equine fatalities at Aqueduct Race Track during the winter of 2011-2012, there
has been a 46% reduction in racing fatalities at Thoroughbred racetracks in New
York: Finger Lakes and the three New York Racing Association tracks; Aqueduct,
Belmont and Saratoga.
Palmer reported that racing fatalities in New York in 2018 averaged 1.29 per
1,000 starts, well under the national average of 1.68.
By comparison, Churchill Downs was second highest in the nation last year at
2.73 per 1,000, and Santa Anita, which suffered a rash of fatalities this
winter, averaged 2.36 fatalities per 1,000 starts for 2016-2017 season, the
latest listing made available by the California Horse Racing Board.
Palmer developed a system in 2012 to improve the average in New York and has
been highly successful in leading the US with a better model. That standard
will be adopted by the Mid-Atlantic Compact, the second Senate bill authorizing
New York’s relationship.
Just as New York led the way after tragedy struck at Aqueduct, California has
taken up that mantel enforcing tighter restrictions after a series of
fatalities at Santa Anita Park last winter. The new measures, including reduced
drug use and better monitoring, have led to fewer equine fatalities in the
months since.
It was announced last Wednesday that a five-member team of independent
veterinarians and stewards from the California Horse Racing Board to will
oversee racing and training at Santa Anita and ensure new safety measures
designed to protect horses are followed.
Even though the situation has abated greatly, rumors that the Board of
Breeders’ Cup Ltd. is still considering a switch from Santa Anita to Churchill
Downs despite the fact that Churchill has one of the worst fatality averages in
the country.
It is a tough spot for Breeders’ Cup Ltd. If a horse breaks down at either
racetrack, the decision will forever be questioned. Should the Breeders’ Cup
remain at Santa Anita this November as scheduled, or should it be moved to
Kentucky?
Damned if you do; damned if you don’t.
© Mark Berner, HorseRaceInsider.com, June 18, 2019, All Rights Reserved.
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