Meeting Aug. 11 in Schenectady, N.Y., and via teleconference, the New York State Gaming Commission advanced changes to its Thoroughbred coupling and wagering rules and ownership licensing, while also updating its ongoing review of fire safety at the state's racetracks.
The commission adopted amendments to wagering rules governing surface changes ahead of the Sept. 18 reopening of Belmont Park. The redeveloped facility will offer, in addition to traditional turf and dirt racing for Thoroughbreds, all-weather racing on Tapeta, prompting the commission to update rules governing multirace wagers when races are transferred between surfaces. The action is intended to provide consistent treatment for bettors when a surface change occurs after wagering has closed.
Commissioners also supported a proposal that would allow "related" horses—those with shared ownership or trained by the same individual—to be uncoupled, while giving the state steward discretion to couple them when it is deemed in the public interest. Track management contends that other North American jurisdictions have successfully implemented less restrictive coupling rules without issue, and that potential integrity concerns can be addressed through analysis of race and wagering data.
New York racing stakeholders favor loosening coupling restrictions, citing the potential for increased wagering through greater betting interests.
Under these rules, up to two related horses could be drawn into an overnight race, or placed on the also-eligible list, provided that two related horses would not start to the exclusion of a single horse. Existing restrictions involving horses trained by or otherwise connected to certain members of a jockey's household would remain.
The commission also advanced a Thoroughbred rule proposal that would reduce licensing requirements for nonmanaging owners, changing the threshold from 35 or fewer owners to 20 or fewer and raising the ownership-interest threshold from 3% to 5% when more than 20 owners are involved. The 5% threshold is modeled on an Association of Racing Commissioners International model rule and is used by several other racing jurisdictions, including Kentucky, Maryland, and Ohio.
Fire safety also remained in discussion following the June 16 barn fire at Saratoga Casino Hotel that killed 17 Standardbreds.
A July 1 release from the NYSGC stated that, among the state's Thoroughbred tracks, Belmont Park and Saratoga Race Course have active, functional hardwired and/or automated heat and smoke detection networks linked directly to central security and/or local emergency services. The commission noted at the time that Finger Lakes was installing eight smoke and heat detectors in each barn, for a total of 84 alarms.
The commission also unanimously sustained hearing officers' recommendations in adjudications involving jockey Christopher Elliott and assistant starter Orlando Quinones. The NYSGC sustained a three-day suspension Elliott received for careless riding in an April 4 race this spring, and the commission backed Quinones being suspended for one year for actions last summer deemed abusive toward a horse.
