Bill Text: NY A01645 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires veterinary records for all claimed racehorses in claiming races, must be transferred from the owner of the racehorse to the claimant within 48 hours of finalizing the claim.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-07-15 - held for consideration in racing and wagering [A01645 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-A01645-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 1645 2019-2020 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY January 16, 2019 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. HAWLEY -- read once and referred to the Committee on Racing and Wagering AN ACT to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law, in relation to requiring transfer of all veterinary records of a claimed racehorse from the owner to the claimant within forty-eight hours from the time the claim is finalized The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Legislative Intent. The legislature hereby finds and 2 declares that it is in the best public policy interests of the state, 3 its businesses and its citizens to ensure that, to the greatest extent 4 possible, the letter and spirit of its thoroughbred racing regulations 5 aimed at protecting the health of New York's racehorses as well as the 6 jockeys, trainers, and owners, are enforced and enacted for any person 7 doing business in the New York state racing industry. 8 Measures to improve safety and health are necessary responses to the 9 "New York Task Force on Racehorse Health and Safety" established as a 10 result of the fatalities of twenty-one racehorses at Aqueduct Race Track 11 during a four month period in 2011 and 2012. The task force stated that 12 because horses are regularly sold in claiming races and due to the lack 13 of transferring veterinary records at the time of sale, "horses are put 14 at increased risk of repeated, and potentially unnecessary invasive 15 joint therapies." This increased risk was evidenced in the official 16 report by the task force which noted the deaths of two racehorses could 17 have been prevented because "it is unlikely that the trainer was aware 18 of any medical treatments that may have occurred prior to his claiming 19 the horse. This may have compromised the trainer's ability to make 20 informed decisions with regard to medication administrations." 21 Despite recommendations by the task force, little has been done to 22 mitigate the problems even though the policy change is in the interest 23 of the New York Racing Association, and the New York State Racing and EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD02074-01-9A. 1645 2 1 Wagering Board. The policy change has also obtained wide-spread support 2 from the American Association of Equine Practitioners, who stated in the 3 official report, "AAEP supports the position that when a horse is sold, 4 any known invasive surgery, disease, injury or congenital defect, which 5 is not apparent, should be disclosed to the intended buyer by the owner 6 and/or agent." This state of affairs places unnecessary danger on the 7 racehorses and the jockeys of all the horses in claiming races across 8 the state. This legislature further declares that it is in the best 9 interest of the state to adopt policies that promote the health and 10 safety of racehorses through improved disclosure and sharing of veteri- 11 narian records. 12 § 2. The racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law is amended by 13 adding a new section 258 to read as follows: 14 § 258. Transfer of veterinary records for claimed racehorses. 1. 15 Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the 16 following meanings: 17 (a) "Claiming race" means a race in which every horse running in such 18 race may be claimed. 19 (b) "Claimant" means a person or entity who successfully becomes the 20 owner of a horse in a claiming race. 21 (c) "Owner" as applied to the racing of a horse means, any managing 22 owner, a racing owner, a part owner, a lessor or lessee and may compro- 23 mise one or more people in a partnership or any form of collective 24 ownership. 25 (d) "Practicing veterinarian" means a licensed veterinarian who treats 26 any racehorse. 27 (e) "Racehorse" means any thoroughbred registered or qualified for 28 registration by the jockey club. 29 (f) "Veterinary records" means any record of veterinary care adminis- 30 tered by a licensed, practicing veterinarian. 31 2. In order to ensure the public's confidence and continue the high 32 degree of integrity and safety in racing at the pari-mutuel betting 33 tracks, veterinary records for all claimed racehorses in claiming races 34 must be transferred from the owner of the racehorse or the owner's 35 authorized agent to the claimant. This transfer must be completed within 36 forty-eight hours of the time that the claim is finalized. The state 37 racing and wagering board shall promulgate any rules and regulations 38 necessary to implement the provisions of this section, including any 39 voidable claims and administrative penalties necessary. 40 § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 41 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend- 42 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen- 43 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made on or 44 before such effective date.
