March Director’s letter
Najja Thompson, Executive Director New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc.
Legislative Update in Albany: We Need Your Voice
Breeding season is underway; early foals are arriving, and the annual anticipation of the year’s 3-year-old crop on the Triple Crown trail is building excitement. Just as important to the industry is that the legislative session in the state capitol has begun. From Jan. 5, when the chamber doors opened, until June 2 when the 2022 legislative session concludes, Albany is abuzz with activity and bills that can benefit or do irreparable harm to our sport and breeding industry.
The New York Thoroughbreds Breeders’ legislative affairs team and I — along with our We Are NY Horse Racing coalition — are closely monitoring several issues and speaking with elected officials about the best interests of the sport. However, we need your help so we can continue to ensure the New York-bred program remains vibrant as the best state-bred program in the nation with unmatched awards and incentives.
Recent efforts from fringe and extremist groups are lobbying legislators to destroy the sport of horse racing and further their own agenda. Fortunately, that agenda is out of step with the vast majority of New Yorkers and our elected officials. Nonetheless it is imperative we take action to send a message to Albany and make our voices heard.
Harmful legislation introduced this session which would upend the successful horse racing economy New York has build includes (S.7269) / (A.7745) relating to the use of tax exemptions for certain racehorses, which is sponsored by Democratic Socialist New York Senator Julia Salazar (D-18) and Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal (Democrat-Working Families Party / (D-67). This bill, if passed, would repeal tax exemptions for racehorses including the purchase of racehorses at horse sales in New York and claims of racehorses on track, and would install a use tax for non-resident owners of racehorses who compete in New York. As you can imagine, the implementation and repeal of these current tax exemptions would do irreparable harm to our industry for breeders and owners. Most detrimental would be devaluing the future demand of New York-breds at auction in Saratoga Springs at the Fasig-Tipton New York selected yearling sale, the sale of preferred New York-bred yearlings, and the Saratoga fall mixed sale. NYTB remains engaged and has partnered with both Fasig-Tipton and the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association to prevent movement on this bill.
As mentioned in previous columns, another threatening piece of legislation is State Assemblymember Rosenthal’s bill (A.8468) which would repeal and redirect Video Lottery Terminal revenue racing support payments away from the industry to human related services. This would be another overreaching act which would defund our industry from money rightfully owed, and overturn agreements made between the state and industry stakeholders with the development of Resorts World Casino at Aqueduct Racetrack property.
As I, and our legislative teams in Albany, continue to work daily to combat these radical bills from downstate legislators looking to penalize and jeopardize New York’s horse racing economy, including participants, enthusiasts, and city and rural economies, we must relay the following facts to our elected officials.
The equine industry and horse racing is New York’s second largest agribusiness following dairy. Our industry provides more than $200 million in payroll for tens of thousands of workers. New York’s breeding industry and horse racing create sustainable jobs and economic opportunity in every corner on the state.
We need your help and I encourage you to lend your voice by utilizing the voter voice tool implemented on the We Are NY Horse Racing website. This will allow you to communicate directly with our legislators in the most efficient way electronically.
Please visit y horse racing.com/take-action and include your name and address, to let elected officials know the importance of the sport of horse racing and breeding industry to your livelihood. With your participation and voice added to our fight, I remain optimistic we can successfully protect the initiatives made during the early foundations of our program, which as led to the most successful period of the New York-bred program, including 11 consecutive years of fielding a grade 1 winner.
