Laws of New York

PML - Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law

Article 3 Harness Racing & Breeding

 

    § 330. Agriculture and New York state horse breeding development fund.

  1.  There  is  hereby  created  within  the  state gaming commission the

  "agriculture and New York state horse breeding development  fund".  Such

  fund shall be a body corporate and politic constituting a public benefit

  corporation. It shall be administered by a board of directors consisting

  of  the  chairman of the state gaming commission or his or her designee,

  the commissioner of agriculture and markets, and three members appointed

  by the governor, all of whom  are  experienced  or  have  been  actively

  engaged  in  the  breeding of standardbred horses in New York state, one

  upon the recommendation of the temporary president of the senate and one

  upon the recommendation of the speaker of  the  assembly.  The  governor

  shall designate the chair from among the sitting members who shall serve

  as  such  at the pleasure of the governor. Appointed members shall serve

  for a term of four years and shall continue to hold office  until  their

  successors  are  appointed  and qualified. The members of the fund shall

  receive no compensation from the fund for their services as such members

  but shall be reimbursed by  the  fund  for  the  expenses  actually  and

  necessarily  incurred  by  them in the performance of their duties under

  sections two hundred twenty-two  through  seven  hundred  five  of  this

  chapter. Such fund shall have perpetual existence and shall exercise all

  powers   authorized   by  this  chapter  and  reasonably  necessary  for

  accomplishing its purposes. Such powers shall be exercised in  the  name

  of the fund.                         

    2. The board may delegate to one or more of the members or officers of

  the fund such powers and duties as it may deem proper and shall utilize,

  pursuant  to  a  contract  approved  by  the director of the budget, the

  service employees of the state gaming commission and the state office of

  racing promotion and development.

    3. The fund is created in order that it may promote  the  breeding  of

  horses  and  the  conduct  of  equine  research in this state on its own

  responsibility and under its own business management. The  policy,  good

  faith  and  interest  of the state are concerned with the management and

  development of the fund and are committed to promotion of horse breeding

  and equine research in this state in active cooperation with  the  fund.

  The  promotion  and  encouragement of equine research shall be through a

  fund of a land  grant  university  within  this  state  with  a  regents

  approved  veterinary college facility. Nothing herein, however, shall be

  deemed in any way to obligate the  state  to  any  bondholder  or  other

  creditor of the fund.

    4.  The  fund  is  directed  to  report annually, on or before January

  thirty-first, to the governor and the legislature, on the state  of  the

  standardbred  breeding  industry  in  this  state.  Such  reports  shall

  include, but not be limited to, the impact of the fund's programs on the

  breeding and racing aspects of the industry; economic factors  affecting

  the  industry  such as employment and employment growth, state and local

  benefits of breeding farms, income and the production of  income  within

  this state, economic comparisons with other states; and data relative to

  mares  and  stallions standing in this state to include such information

  as the number in this state, racing quality  as  measured  by  wins  and

  stakes won and placed and money won, the number of foals and foal racing

  quality as measured by sales value and number of starts, races and money

  won,  the  progeny  quality,  including earnings, and the success of New

  York-breds nationally.

    5. The fund is  further  directed  to  incorporate  into  its  reports

  comments  from  spokesmen  representing  all segments of the industry as

  well as recommendations on preserving  and  enhancing  the  standardbred

  breeding industry in this state.

 

  § 331. Powers. The fund shall have power:

    1. To sue and be sued.

    2. To have a seal and alter the same at pleasure.

    3. To acquire, hold and dispose of personal property for its corporate

  purposes.

    4. To make by-laws for the management and regulation of its affairs.

    5.  To  invest  or to authorize the comptroller to invest on behalf of

  the fund any moneys of the fund pursuant to the  provisions  of  section

  ninety-eight-a  of  the state finance law, and all interest earned shall

  be  credited  to  each  account  authorized  by  section  three  hundred

  thirty-two of this chapter pursuant to resolution.

 

§ 332. Resources of fund. The fund is authorized and directed:

    1.  To collect and receive in each calendar year amounts to be paid to

  the fund by the persons or corporations licensed to conduct  pari-mutuel

  betting at harness racing tracks, an amount equal to three-fifths of one

  per  centum  of  all  moneys  deposited  in  pari-mutuel  betting  pools

  resulting from on-track bets at all races conducted by  licensees  at  a

  harness  horse meeting or races run thereat except that for super exotic

  betting pools such amount shall be three per centum  of  such  bets,  as

  provided  by  paragraph  c  of  subdivision one of section three hundred

  eighteen of this article and to collect and  receive  in  each  calendar

  year  to  be  paid  to  the fund by each regional corporation, an amount

  equal to three-fifths of one per centum  of  daily  pools  derived  from

  off-track  bets  on  harness  races except that for super exotic betting

  pools such amount shall be three per centum of such bets as provided  by

  subdivision  five  of section five hundred twenty-seven of this chapter;

  provided however, that after April first, nineteen  hundred  eighty-six,

  the amount to be collected and received from such licensees and regional

  corporations,  except  for  super exotic betting pools, shall be one per

  centum, and to collect and  receive  such  funds  as  may  otherwise  be

  authorized  by law. The moneys shall be deposited forthwith in a bank or

  banks in this state. The fund is authorized to dispose of and distribute

  the monies received by it pursuant to the provisions of this chapter for

  the following purpose and no others:

    a. An amount as shall be determined by the fund, but shall not  exceed

  four percent thereof in an account designated "administration".

    b.  An  amount  as  shall  be  determined  by  the  fund in an account

  designated "4-H standardbred development program".

    c. An amount as  shall  be  determined  by  the  fund  in  an  account

  designated  "New  York  state  exposition horse facility maintenance and

  construction".

    d. An amount as  shall  be  determined  by  the  fund  in  an  account

  designated "New York state exposition breeding farms".

    e.  An  amount  as  shall  be  determined  by  the  fund in an account

  designated "county and town agricultural societies".

    f. An amount as shall be determined by the fund but shall not be  less

  than  seventy-five  percent  thereof  in an account designated "New York

  state breeding farms", and of such amount not less than ten percent  nor

  more  than  twenty percent as determined by the trustees of the fund may

  be used exclusively for breeders' awards for New York-breds  and  awards

  to owners of eligible stallions.

    g.  An  amount  as  shall  be  determined  by  the  fund in an account

  designated "county and town agricultural society harness racing events".

    h. An amount equal to two percent thereof  in  an  account  designated

  "equine research".

    i.  An amount as shall be determined by the fund, but not in excess of

  one and one-half percent thereof, in an account designated  "to  support

  and  promote  research, educational programming, and the preservation of

  the history and traditions of harness and trotting horse racing  through

  acquiring  and  maintaining  collections  of  artifacts, memorabilia and

  documents related to such history and to  maintaining  a  historic  race

  track that is designated as a national registered historic landmark".

    2.  a. To disburse annually out of the account designated in paragraph

  e of subdivision one  of  this  section,  to  any  agricultural  society

  qualified  therefor  under rules and regulations established by the fund

  and which properly requests same, reimbursement for moneys  expended  by

  it for actual and necessary repairs to its grounds or buildings approved

  by  the  fund  and  used directly in promotion of agriculture generally,

  except that no such qualifying society shall be paid in  excess  of  six

  thousand  dollars  for  such  repair  in  any  one year, and to disburse

  annually  out  of  the  said  account  designated  in  paragraph  e   of

  subdivision  one  of this section, to any agricultural society qualified

  therefor,  under rules and regulations established by the fund and which

  properly requests same.

    b. After disbursements of moneys out  of  the  account  designated  in

  paragraph  e of subdivision one of this section for repairs as set forth

  in paragraph a of this subdivision, to disburse the balance of moneys in

  such account upon proper request made by a duly qualifying  agricultural

  society  for capital construction of the grounds, building or equipment,

  of the requesting society. In the event that the said balance  remaining

  in  such  account  is  not sufficient to pay each qualifying society the

  amount requested and approved for payment by the authority, the  balance

  in  such  account shall be paid proratably to the amount each requesting

  society would be eligible to receive, except that no qualifying  society

  shall  be  paid  in  excess of fifteen thousand dollars for such capital

  construction purpose in any one year.  No  capital  construction  moneys

  under this subdivision shall be paid to any such agricultural society in

  the  absence  of  satisfactory  proof  presented  to  the fund that such

  society has in its possession or on deposit to its account  in  bank,  a

  like  amount of money to be used by it for the same capital construction

  purpose.

    c. Each such society whose application for capital construction moneys

  as described in paragraph b of this subdivision is approved by the  fund

  in  any  year, shall have the right and privilege to defer such approved

  payment to it for capital construction for a period of up to three years

  beyond the year of approval. In the  event  that  the  approved  capital

  construction  remains uncompleted at the end of said three year deferred

  period, the amount of moneys so approved and  deferred  shall  become  a

  part  of  the  balance  for  capital  construction available to all such

  agricultural societies.

    d. Any county or town agricultural society may apply to the  fund  for

  permission pursuant to the provisions hereof to make one or more capital

  improvements  and  the fund shall determine whether the proposed capital

  construction will promote agriculture or domestic  arts  in  this  state

  and, on a finding in the affirmative shall approve such construction and

  provide for payment to the applying society out of the account under the

  provisions designated in paragraph e of subdivision one of this section.

    e.   Agricultural   societies  qualified  to  participate  under  this

  subdivision, shall, on or before the thirty-first day of December in the

  year immediately preceding the year in which the said moneys are  to  be

  distributed,  make  application for participation to the fund. Sums paid

  hereunder  to  participating  societies  shall  be  separate  from   and

  additional  to  any  sums paid annually by the department of agriculture

  and markets under the provisions of section two  hundred  eighty-six  of

  the agriculture and markets law.

    f.  The  fund shall provide forms for application for distribution and

  shall prescribe such regulations and rules as are necessary for carrying

  out the provisions of this section and may make such  investigations  as

  are  necessary  to  determine  the  validity of any requests, claims and

  applications for distribution of moneys hereunder.

    3. To disburse annually out of the account designated in  paragraph  b

  of  subdivision one of this section, to such 4-H societies, such amounts

  as the directors deem advisable, as are engaged or propose to engage  in

  a  program  for  the  development  of  standardbred horses. The form for

  application by such 4-H societies for such moneys, shall  be  prescribed

  by the trustees of the fund.

    4.  To  disburse annually out of the account designated in paragraph c

  of subdivision one of this section, to the department of agriculture and

  markets for the construction and maintenance of racing facilities at the

  New York state exposition, such moneys deposited therein, to the  extent

  that such moneys are expended for such purposes.

    5.  The  salaries of the officers, agents and employees, and all other

  expenses of the said fund shall be paid out of the account designated in

  paragraph a of subdivision one of this section.

 

§  333.  New  York  state  exposition  harness  racing.  The  fund  is

  authorized and empowered to  disburse  annually  as  purses,  prizes  or

  premiums  the  moneys contained in the account designated in paragraph d

  of subdivision one of section three hundred thirty-two of this  article,

  to  owners  of the winners, second, third, fourth and fifth place horses

  of all harness horse stake and overnight races conducted at the New York

  state exposition, or at any  licensed  pari-mutuel  track  in  New  York

  state,  with  a  preference  given to any available licensed pari-mutuel

  track that is five-eighths of a mile long or larger, for  New  York-bred

  colts,  fillies  and  horses,  as  such New York-bred colts, fillies and

  horses comply with conditions for stake and overnight events  set  forth

  in section three hundred thirty-four of this article.

 

  §  334.  New  York-bred  harness  horse events. 1. The fund is further

  authorized and directed to conduct each year,  at  the  New  York  state

  exposition,  with  the approval of the director of the exposition, or at

  any licensed pari-mutuel track in New  York  state,  with  a  preference

  given  to  any available licensed pari-mutuel track that is five-eighths

  of a  mile  long  or  larger,  colt,  stake  and  overnight  events  for

  standardbred  horses to provide contests for two year old and three year

  old colts and fillies at each gait of trotting  and  pacing.  The  colt,

  stake  and overnight events so conducted for two year old and three year

  old colts and fillies at each gait  of  trotting  and  pacing  hereunder

  shall  be conditioned to admit only those colts and fillies dropped from

  a mare bred in this state and sired by a stallion owned  or  leased  and

  permanently standing for service at and within this state at the time of

  the  said foal's conception. Such colt, stake and overnight events shall

  be opened for nomination not earlier than the first day  of  January  in

  the  year  the event is to be held and only colts and fillies and horses

  complying with the  following  standards  shall  be  eligible  for  such

  nomination:

    a.  All  foals must be sired by a stallion registered with the fund or

  an agent designated by it.

    b. Prior to December first  of  each  year,  all  persons  standing  a

  stallion at either public or private service shall file with the fund or

  an agent designated by it a list of all mares bred to each stallion.

    c. All persons standing a stallion in New York state must:

    Register each stallion with the fund or an agent designated by it.

    d. Syndicates standing a stallion in this state where the syndicate is

  owned  partly by non-residents of this state, must file a lease with the

  fund or an agent designated by it.

    e. Stallion eligibility: Eligible stallions are those stallions:

    (i) owned by a resident of New York state and standing the entire stud

  season in New York state, or

    (ii) owned by a resident of a state other than New York  but  standing

  the  entire  stud  season in this state and leased by a resident of this

  state for a term of not less than one year, or

    (iii) owned jointly by a resident of  a  state  other  than  New  York

  together  with  a  resident  of  this state and standing the entire stud

  season in this state and leased by a resident of this state for  a  term

  of not less than one year.

    (1)  Starting  fees  in  such colt and filly stake events shall not be

  less than two percent of the amount of the purse therefor and  shall  be

  added to purses to be distributed as hereinafter provided.

    (2)  Purses,  stakes  or  prizes shall be paid to the winners, second,

  third, fourth and fifth place horses in the aforesaid colt and filly and

  horse stake events, in amounts determined by the fund. Purses and prizes

  shall be paid to the winners, second,  third,  fourth  and  fifth  place

  horses  in  overnight events, in amounts to be determined by the harness

  track licensees.

    2. The fund is further  authorized  and  directed  in  each  year,  in

  cooperation  with  each licensee harness track in this state, to provide

  for the running of stake events conditioned to admit only two  year  old

  and  three  year  old colts and fillies dropped from a mare bred in this

  state and sired by a stallion owned or leased and  permanently  standing

  for  service  at  and  within  this state at the time of the said foal's

  conception, at each gait of trotting and pacing, to  be  known  as  "New

  York  sire  stakes" and to contribute to the purses, stakes or prizes to

  be awarded in such "New York sire stakes", such sums as the  fund  shall

  deem  advisable.  The  fund  may  prescribe a starting fee for such "New

  York-bred harness horse stakes" but in no event shall such fee  be  less

  than  two  per  centum  of  the  estimated purse for each entry. The fee

  prescribed shall be added to the purses awarded.

    3.  Subsequent  to  the  year  two  thousand  fourteen a foal shall be

  eligible for the "New York sire stakes" if conceived from a mare bred in

  the state and sired by a stallion owned by a resident of this  state  or

  leased to a resident of this state for a period of no less than one year

  and  standing  for  service  within  the state at the time of the foal's

  conception.

    4. The fund shall have the power to prescribe rules and regulations to

  determine the eligibility of entries in  "New  York-bred  harness  horse

  races" and to effectuate the purposes and requirements set forth in this

  section.

§ 335. County and town agricultural society harness racing events. The

  fund  is  further  authorized  and directed in each year, in cooperation

  with each town and county agricultural society, qualified therefor under

  rules and regulations established  by  the  fund,  to  provide  for  the

  running  of  New York-bred harness horse racing events, as authorized by

  the fund, and to contribute to the purses,  prizes  and  premiums,  such

  sums  as the fund shall deem advisable, to be disbursed from the account

  designated "county and town agricultural society harness racing events".

  Said events shall be conditioned to admit only standardbred horses which

  meet the standards set forth in subdivision one of section three hundred

  thirty-four of this chapter.

 

§  336.  Actions against fund. Except in an action for wrongful death,

  no action against the fund founded upon  tort  shall  be  commenced  (a)

  prior to the expiration of thirty days from the date on which the notice

  of  claim  upon  which the action is founded, served pursuant to section

  fifty-e of the general municipal law, was presented to a member  of  the

  board  of  directors of the fund or other officer thereof designated for

  such purpose nor (b) more than one year and ninety days after the  cause

  of  action  therefor  shall have accrued. An action against the fund for

  wrongful death shall be commenced in accordance with the notice of claim

  and time limitation provisions of title eleven of article  nine  of  the

  public authorities law.

 



 
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