BILL NUMBER:S5920            REVISED MEMO 01/14/14

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and
breeding law, in relation to harness racing

PURPOSE:

To allow competition and wagering on "racing under saddle" at
standardbred harness racetracks.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends subdivision 3 of section 301 of the Racing,
Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding law to permit a mounted rider as an
acceptable form of standardbred harness racing.

Section 2: Effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:

Under current law, the definition of harness racing limits the racing
of this very specific and unique breed of horse (standardbred a/kla
harness horse) to racing attached to "a sulky, carriage or similar
vehicle" and effectively prohibits the practice of "racing under
saddle" with a mounted rider.

              

A promotional event, where no purse money was awarded, was held at
Yonkers Raceway in 2010. While the Yonkers exhibition created interest
and excitement in this new form of racing, it has remained a novelty
with unrealized potential because of the inability to pay purses.
Permitting "racing under saddle" at New York State harness tracks
could have significant benefits for the racing industry, and
therefore, for the entire state.

This proposal would specifically limit such racing at harness tracks
only to registered standardbred horses (and only at a trot or a pace).
Such changes would allow licensed harness tracks to conduct either
harness races or "racing under saddle" races, and would allow wagers
to be made and purses to be paid under the same regulatory guidelines
currently in place for the conduct of harness races.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None to state.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect immediately.