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May 4, 2010
Dear Fellow Horsemen:
The season has barely started, yet already
track management has distributed a memo that unfortunately takes several
factually unsupported shots at the HHA of CNY and shares only half of
the facts with you and your fellow horsemen. Here are the actual
facts of the Capital OTB situation that management chose not to share
with you:
Capital Region OTB does, in fact, owe Vernon
Downs and its horsemen (you) some $310,000 dollars. It will pay that
amount. However, part of the deal was for them to pay only
$300,000 and allow Capital to keep $10,000 to promote Vernon races –
which is something it should be doing anyway, since we, like Saratoga,
are defined as one of Capital Region’s “in-region tracks. That
said, the HHA of CNY had no problem with the promotion part. What we had
trouble with was the condition that track management sought to impose
upon it. The track wanted to amend our contract to allow management to
use our half of the remaining $300,000 of purse money – money WE
have earned – to be used to make THEIR improvements in the backstretch.
Those improvements are the obligation of Management, the same Management
that tore down barns last year, and not the obligation of the horsemen.
Your association made sure that our money went where it belonged; in our
purse account, not to cover the track owner’s own clear
responsibilities.
Why do we take this position? One of many
reasons is the track operator gets money allocated to it to make capital
improvements to among other things the backstretch. Go to the Racing
Board website and check out the NYSR&WB archived meeting agendas, which
show that the track has been the beneficiary of such funds in the past.
Also, it must be noted that track management told us not so long ago
that some of our paddocks had to be taken down, as they were in
violation of the Department of Environmental Conservation’s regulations.
Many of us lost those paddocks. Now, when we are asked to pay for
Management’s responsibilities in the backstretch, suddenly there are no
impediments to anything being done. Of course not; so long as it is
with our purse money!
Just as important, what is notably absent
from the memo circulated by Mr. Settlemoir is the fact that track
Management was given a counter proposal: We said we would consider
contributing to what is clearly Management’s capital improvement
obligation, so long as they agreed to restore the barn area to a large
CAFO, rather than limit the stalls here to under 500. We felt that was a
need that better suited our members, who were being asked to pay for the
improvement. The track refused to consider this reasonable offer, which
would have made more stalls available to all.
Finally, in spite of a contractual provision
requiring Management to refrain from interfering with the election of
the association, which has fairly looked out for your interests, the
language in this recent memo makes is clear that these letters are
purely designed to create and foster animosity towards the Board
members. Management has acknowledged that our Board elections, held
under the auspices of a Certified Public Accounting firm, are conducted
the same as in other associations. Yet they continue to make comments
about wanting to “see the ballots.” Show Management the ballots of
the horsemen’s election? Management would just love to see how it could
leverage you by seeing if and how you voted. You should know that we
refused all manner of Management’s requests regarding these ballots, no
matter how they were disguised. Elections in this country are secret
and it’s not hard to see why.
In conclusion, if you’re still wondering why
that dollar bill is still in your purse account versus Management’s side
of the ledger, it’s because you don’t race at a track with a management-
selected and controlled horsemen’s association. We will simply not
allow management to shift the track’s responsibilities to your shoulders
or take an exorbitant interest rate from horsemen because they overpay
purses to feed a stakes program. We will continue to tell you the
truth, and the WHOLE truth, and will continue to fight for your
interests.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors
Harness Horse Association of Central New York
Article from the New York Times
July 9, 2009
Drug Tests of Harness Horses Lagging in New York
By BILL FINLEY
Although New York racing regulators have recently tightened the
rules regarding the use of performance-enhancing drugs in racehorses,
the state is not testing harness horses for anabolic steroids or
conducting regular testing in the harness
industry for an illegal concoction known as a milkshake.
This comes even though horse owners began paying a $10 fee, imposed
in early May, for each thoroughbred and harness horse that runs in New
York.
The failure to provide thorough drug testing in harness racing
appears to be one of a number of problems with the state’s equine
drug-testing program. The program is conducted at the College
of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University and is, according to
the college’s dean, Dr. Michael I. Kotlikoff, underfinanced.
“Why aren’t we testing for more drugs?” Kotlikoff said.
“The fundamental answer is that the state, through the New York
State Racing and Wagering Board, has not provided sufficient funds.”
The state pays Cornell $4 million annually to conduct its
drug-testing program, a sum that Kotlikoff said is about $1.3 million
less than what it needs. The $10 fee is intended to raise about $1
million annually.
The shortfall has left horse owners discouraged.
“I was told they were testing for steroids and that they were
testing everywhere for the milkshakes,” said Kim Crawford, director
of the United
States Trotting Association, who is also a trainer and driver at
Saratoga Raceway. “The state is getting the $10 per horse from us
and that amounts to a lot of money. Now, we find out they’re not
doing the testing they’re supposed to be doing.”
Racing Board officials disagree with Kotlikoff’s assertion that
the state is not providing Cornell with enough money and insist that
much of the problem has to do with the university’s decision to
raise its fees for administrative costs. Traditionally, Cornell kept
12.3 percent of the money it received from the state for costs not
directly tied to drug testing. It recently raised that to 18 percent.
“State funding for equine drug testing at Cornell has increased
significantly over the past five years,” the Racing Board spokesman
Joe Mahoney said. “Cornell, in that time, has managed to boost the
percentage it keeps from that allotment. Cornell has been granted a
monopoly on this work, and we’re endeavoring to find an alternative
arrangement.”
But Kotlikoff said that Cornell is using that money to recoup costs
incurred by the drug-testing program in the past several years.
“They have come up with additional revenue with the $10 charge,
but it is not dedicated to steroid testing,” Kotlikoff said. “It
was to cover the overall program and to wipe out the existing
deficit.”
Despite the apparent financial crunch, Racing Board officials said
that the $10 fee will eventually wipe out Cornell’s deficit and that
increased testing will eventually be enacted.
“We are optimistic that the testing of harness horses will start
soon,” Mahoney said.
Kotlikoff said the situation might get worse. He said the building
that houses the drug-testing program is in such a state of disrepair
that the university may have no choice but to close it and end the
testing program. Should that happen, he said, the state could be
forced to have its testing done outside New York at a higher cost.
“The racing industry has said it will not recognize graded stakes
at tracks where the testing is done by labs that have not achieved
certain standards,” Kotlikoff said. “Because of that, Kentucky is
farming out drug testing to Florida at a cost that is roughly three
times more than the state pays to Cornell for an individual drug
test.”
According to Scot Waterman, the executive director of the Racing
Medication and Testing Consortium, the cost for an individual drug
test in New York, which is $55, is below the industry average.
One reason for the tests is to detect the use of a milkshake.
Cornell tests for the byproducts of a milkshake — a combination of
baking soda and other substances that delays the onset of lactic acid,
which makes a horse tired — on a random basis at the state’s
harness tracks. It is conducting tests at no more than three of the
state’s seven harness tracks.
Although testing in harness racing has been hurt the most by the
cash shortfall, the problem could have extended to thoroughbreds had
it not been for machinery purchased by the New York Thoroughbred
Horsemen’s Association for $500,000.
“Absent that contribution from the horsemen, we would not be
testing for steroids in the thoroughbreds, either,” Kotlikoff said.
July 10, 2009
NOTICE: USTA MEDICAL INSURANCE
EXCLUDES NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY
From SOAofNY
An article published June 17, 2009 by the
USTA states that they are now offering Health Insurance Benefits to
harness racing participant members seeking reasonable and enhanced
health insurance coverage.
Please be aware that while we attempted to
investigate the plans offered, and finally learned that such plans are
not available in New York or New Jersey, our inquiry stopped there.
WARNING
We
have received information from the Harness Racing Communication's people
that local horsemen hauling horse/livestock trailers are being pulled
over by State Police for major safety infractions totaling up to $
3300!! These infractions consist of violations regarding:
To
ensure that your trailer meets federal and state safety regulations, has
proper license and documentation, or to obtain a DOT number, please
visit http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov.
To read power points on what to do if stopped by the police or any other
safety or regulatory information please visit Education Materials.
Your ten bucks for Drug testing.
Where has it gone?
The SOA of NY has learned that the $10 being taken from the horsemen's
share of earned purse money is being used for the NYSR&WB purposes and not
as we were led to believe for the purposes of enhanced drug testing.
The total available from these funds is projected to be in excess of 1
million dollars from all NYS tracks and was promised as an extra effort to
secure a level playing field. To say we are more than disappointed is an
understatement.
Headlines | Posted 4/16/2009, 6:50 pm <javascript:PrintThisPage();>
javascript:PrintThisPage();
New York enacts testing fee
By David Grening
As a result of recent legislation, New York state rules mandate that,
effective May 7, owners pay a $10 entry fee to run a horse at any track in
the state. The revenue will support the New York State Racing and Wagering
Board's drug-testing program.
"We see this as the fairest way to raise the funds it requires to enhance
our expanded integrity initiatives," said Joe Mahoney, spokesman for the
racing board. "As of the beginning of this year, new rules went into effect
greatly restricting the use of steroids in racing in New York. Our drug
testing lab at Cornell University is equipped to detect hundreds of
different substances.
"Given the profound economic difficulties facing this state and nation, we
were not at all inclined to seek this revenue from New York taxpayers,"
Mahoney added. "This nominal entry fee is a far better alternative.''
Rick Violette, president of the New York Thoroughbred Horseman's
Association, said horsemen on the New York Racing Association circuit have
already donated $500,000 for enhanced drug testing in the state. Violette
said this new rule will cost NYRA owners $220,000.
"We've been ahead of the curve without any prodding," Violette said.
"We've
led the industry to have state-of-the-art testing for steroids. We thought
this was a bit piling on and wish it hadn't passed. It's penny-wise and
pound-foolish."
$10 STARTING FEE
One of the many new fees and taxes mandated
as a result of new legislation in New York State is a $10 entry fee to
race a horse at any track in the state. The revenue raised by this
new fee will be used to support the Racing & Wagering Board's new
Drug Testing Program. The rule goes into effect on May 7, 2009.
There is an approach being discussed which
this Association is very much in favor as we feel it will greatly
simplify what could be mass confusion. The idea is to deduct the
fee from purse checks earned. Therefore, instead of having to
continually pay $ 10.00 every time you enter a horse, the fee will be
deducted from earnings. For owners whose horse does not earn a
check, the fee will be deducted from future earnings.
Any owner with an outstanding balance at
the end of the month will be billed by the track. The track will
remit the total owed for all starters each month, and will have the
responsibility to collect the outstanding balance. This plan, or a
similar variation, must of course, be approved by the New York State
Racing and Wagering Board.
We will keep you updated as the information
comes in.
CONCERNING ALL OWNERS, TRAINERS AND
VETERINARIANS
Chairman Executive Director
John
D. Sabini Ronald G. Ochrym Members Secretary to
the Board Daniel
D. Hogan Gail Pronti John B. Simoni 1 Broadway Center, Suite 600,
Schenectady, NY 12305-2553 Telephone (518) 395-5400 FAX: (518) 347-1250 http://www.racing.state.ny.us
STATE OF NEW YORK
RACING AND
WAGERING BOARD July
27, 2009
Dear Industry Participant,
The New York State Racing and Wagering Board is seeking comments
concerning a treatment record rule concept that would require that a
reasonably contemporaneous record of treatment travel with a racehorse
and be available on demand by a Board official.
The following text would be added to the existing Board rules titled
"Records of Veterinarian" (4012.4 [thoroughbred] and 4120.9
[harness]):
Every owner and trainer of a horse, on the grounds or that has within
the prior 60 days entered to race at a race track, shall continuously
have available, for immediate inspection by any official of the board
who requests it, the horse’s veterinary record, which must include a
contemporaneous record, for every administration of a drug, medication,
or other substance to the horse within 45 days before its race, of the
substance administered, dosage, manner of administration, person who
administered it, and the date, time, and place of administration.
The failure of any owner or trainer to provide this record, or a true
and complete copy of it, when requested by an official of the board, or
of any veterinarian to have provided the record to the owner and
trainer, may result in a scratch, disqualification, and/or listing as
ineligible of a horse and in penalties against the owner, trainer,
and/or veterinarian including a fine and suspension or revocation of the
occupational license.
Please provide any comments no
later than August 14, 2009 by
email to jgoogas@racing.state.ny.us or by mail to John Googas, New York
State Racing and Wagering Board, One Broadway Center, Schenectady, NY
12305.
Very Truly Yours,
Gail Pronti,
Secretary to the Board
Interesting and Informational article:
Move Planned for New York Drug-Testing Lab
by Tom Precious
Date Posted: 11/20/2009
3:38:45 PM
Last Updated: 11/22/2009
2:49:30 PM
After nearly four decades, New York’s Cornell University is moving to
close its world-famous equine drug-testing laboratory. An equine science
program at a state university 70 miles up the road is eagerly willing to
take over, and expand, an operation vital to the state’s horse industry.
The transfer of lab operations from Cornell to Morrisville State
College in central New York could be completed by early next spring,
with Dr. George Maylin, one of the leading experts in equine drug
testing and veterinary toxicology, making the move with the program,
officials said.
“We have as much invested in the racing industry as anyone,” said
Raymond Cross, president of Morrisville, which has a growing equine
science program. “We think this is a nice fit for what we do.”
Cross, who is leading what has been a quiet effort for Morrisville to
become the state’s equine testing lab, talked of ensuring a seamless
transfer of the lab from Cornell to his state university facility in the
coming months. Beyond that, though, Cross has lofty visions for propping
up the lab to not only test equine samples from New York, but other
states as well.
He also hopes that someday, the facility becomes a major testing lab
for human performance drugs in athletes.
“We believe we can use this as a foundation to create a national drug
testing center," Cross said in an interview.
Officials said the lab transfer is a cooperative one between the two
colleges. The Cornell lab, tied to its College of Veterinary Medicine
and an innovator in equine drug testing, last year conducted 94,000
equine sample tests with the capability of testing for hundreds of
various drugs. But Cornell for several years has been quietly
threatening to close the facility, arguing to state officials it could
no longer afford to run the facility on what the state provided in the
way of funding for the tests.
The most recent and most serious came in September, when Michael
Kotlikoff, dean of the veterinary medicine program, wrote to state
racing regulators of being under “enormous financial pressure" at
Cornell over the past year and of a lab facility that has markedly
deteriorated in recent times. He said $9 million is needed for a new lab
at Cornell–money the state of New York, given its fiscal problems,
cannot afford. He asked state officials to find another location for the
lab.
Meanwhile, state officials said the Cornell program has been getting
increasingly expensive for the government. In response to Kotlikoff, New
York State Racing and Wagering Board chairman John Sabini wrote back
that the state’s payments to Cornell for the testing has grown from $2.2
million in 2004 to $3.6 million this year, and that indirect costs
funded by the state are up 157% during the same period to $624,000.
The move is not a done deal because it requires a change in state
law, which now specifically mandates that equine drug testing be done at
Cornell. Lawmakers are already moving to get legislation passed early
next year to permit the change to Morrisville.
The state’s top racing regulator is behind the Morrisville plan.
“Having the equine experts at Morrisville State College operate our
drug program would be a tremendously beneficial development for all
racing stakeholders in New York and would unleash the potential for new
economic development opportunities in central New York," Sabini said in
a written statement. “Should this project move forward, it has the
potential to make Morrisville a flagship center for the testing of
performance-enhancing drugs not only for horse racing but all sports.”
Morrisville has had conversations with Don Catlin, the UCLA doping
expert, about future plans to possibly connect the college with the
Institute for Human Performance at the state university’s Upstate
Medical University in nearby Syracuse, part of what some hope to be
regional testing labs around the nation for human athlete specimens.
Morrisville officials see the lab as becoming a money-maker for the
state down the road, helped, in part, by serving as an equine testing
facility for other states–Maylin has had discussions with officials in
other states to gauge the opportunities--and through the sale of
contaminated horse specimens used by research facilities.
But first, Cross said, the mission is to carry on and expand the lab
innovations Cornell has contributed over the years. He believes the lab
will fit well with his college’s equine science program, which features
over 350 students learning everything from the business side of the
industry to breeding and training.
The college alone breeds 450 mares a year in an area Cross believes
is developing into an “equine ally’’ of New York. The school is located
just east of the Finger Lakes region and south of the Vernon Downs
harness track.
Morrisville believes it can run the testing program cheaper for the
state, which gets its funding from assessments placed on New York’s
racing industry, in part because of the higher expenses associated with
the research operation tied to the lab now at Cornell. The college is
looking to lease a 20,000-square-foot facility to house the
equipment–nearly all of which is owned by the state–and its dozen or so
employees.
The plans also call for expanding the college’s current equine
science department to include coursework in applied equine toxicology,
with Maylin, a fixture at Cornell for 38 years, teaching some of the
classes besides being director of the new Morrisville lab.
Cross is hoping to get the lab up and running by about April 1, an
ambitious date he said is possible because of the cooperation from
Cornell and state officials. The current Cornell contract with the state
ends March 31.
Morrisville is getting support from the state’s horse industry, in
part, because the money needed to keep the lab at Cornell would
eventually be passed along to tracks and owners and breeders in the form
of higher assessments by the state.
“One of the things we want to make sure of is: Are we taking care of
their interests?" Cross said of the horse industry. “So, this is very
important to the horse industry of this state."
Sabini said he believes the Morrisville proposal meets a challenge by
Gov. David Paterson “to find innovative and economically sound public
policy decisions.’’ The state is facing a $3.2-billion deficit this year
and $7 billion in 2010.
Sabini also praised two state lawmakers from central New York–Senator
David Valesky and Assemblyman Bill Magee–for supporting the Morrisville
effort. “I’m very impressed by the outside-the-box, creative ideas I
have heard from Dr. Cross on how this project could grow into a regional
operation and attract business from other states," Sabini said.
MPORTANT INFORMATION CONCERNING OTB'S IN NEW YORK
CONTACT:
Press Office
(518) 474-4015
FOR RELEASE:
Immediately
August 14, 2009
DiNapoli: NYC OTB Facing Mounting Losses,
Insolvency Looms
The New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation (NYC OTB)
is facing financial
insolvency if current financial trends continue,
according to an
audit
released today by
New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. The NYC
OTB’s operating expenses
and accumulated losses have increased steadily in the
last four years, resulting in an
operating deficit of approximately $38 million. In
total, the organization has an
outstanding deficit of more than $228 million. DiNapoli’s
audit also recommended
significant management changes.
“New York City OTB is on very shaky financial ground,”
DiNapoli said. “Even if costsavings
measures are implemented, it’s unlikely that it will
remain financially solvent for
long. This is a serious problem that needs in-depth
examination. If the goal is to keep
OTB viable, serious consideration must be given to
changing the mandated state formulas
and restructuring operations to coordinate different
aspects of the racing industry.
“The off-track betting industry in New York has taken
a beating in the last few years. It’s
not the cash cow it used to be. The future of the
industry is seriously in question, and
there are jobs at risk and economic development
opportunities being missed. NYC OTB
provides millions of dollars in revenues to the horse
racing industry, which in turn
provides employment for thousands of New Yorkers. The
industry is too important to
fail. Something has to be done. Inaction will mean
insolvency.”
NYC OTB is a public benefit corporation created in 1970
to generate revenue through
pari-mutuel betting for New York City, the horse racing
industry and the state. NYC
OTB has 68 betting locations and accepts wagers over the
phone and Internet. As of
September 1, 2008, it had a total of 1,366 employees.
There are six regional off-track
betting corporations in the state.
In recent years, NYC OTB has been unable to cover all of
its operating expenses without
using surplus funds and delaying some statutory
payments. Since 2004, its outside CPA
firm has questioned its ability to keep operating. NYC
OTB had planned to close in June
2008, but instead the state took it over on June 17,
2008.
The audit, which began after the state took over
operations, examined the financial
condition of NYC OTB from July 1, 2004 through October
24, 2008. Auditors reviewed
current financial statements and actions taken by NYC
OTB to reduce operating costs, as
well as identified additional opportunities for possible
cost reductions.
The review of the NYC OTB’s finances found:
Financial
condition deteriorated: From
fiscal years 2004-05 to 2007-08, NYC
OTB collected about $1 billion a year in wagers, but
accumulated growing
operating deficits, totaling about $38 million. In
fiscal year ended June 30, 2008,
NYC OTB took in a total of $998.2 million in wagers. The
winning bettors
received approximately $760.9 million, and statutory
distributions, totaling
$128.6 million, were made to the horse racing industry
($93.2 million), New York
City and local governments ($20.2 million) and New York
State ($15.2 million).
NYC OTB was left with $116.1 million to cover its
operating expenses, which
were $133.9 million, leaving it with an operating
deficit for the year of $17.8
million.
Distribution
formula changes not enough: The
NYC OTB’s statutory
distributions are a significant financial outlay. By far
the most significant of these
distributions are to the horse racing industry. Over a
four-year period,
distributions to the industry totaled $386 million and
accounted for more than 72
percent of the NYC OTB’s total $533.5 million in
statutory distributions.
Legislative changes in June 2008 to allow the NYC OTB to
retain more of its
revenue have not had a significant impact on the
organization because wagers are
down and are expected to remain down due to economic
conditions.
No
comprehensive assessment of operating expenses: While
management has
taken action to address operating deficits, it has not
performed a detailed
assessment of its operations or developed a plan for
achieving cost reductions by
specific dates.
To achieve potential cost savings, DiNapoli recommends
that NYC OTB:
Conduct a
formal evaluation of executive, management and branch staffing.
Examine the
wide variations in operation expenses for branch offices. For
instance, when comparing operating expenses as a
percentage of handle, some
offices have operating expenses of 6 percent while
others are as high as 27
percent.
Review
consultant contracts to determine if they can be reduced or eliminated.
Auditors examined three of the largest consultant
contracts and found no written
justification for the contracts, none had been selected
through a competitive
process and no evaluation was done as to whether these
services could be
performed in-house.
Determine
if the organization needs 87 vehicles, including the 22 vehicles
assigned to executive and management staff. Auditors
were unable to find any
written justification governing the assignment of
vehicles. In addition, vehicle
logs were not properly maintained and did not include
information on who was
going where and for what purpose. Each vehicle costs
about $6,700 a year to
maintain.
In its response to the audit, the OTB said it was
re-examining all aspects of operations to
identify cost saving opportunities. However, OTB
officials said more significant actions
such as changing the mandatory distribution system and
aligning the business interests of
the state’s various racing institutions were necessary
to stave off ultimate insolvency.
###
Albany Phone: (518) 474-4015 Fax: (518) 473-8940
NYC Phone: (212) 681-4840 Fax: (212) 681-7677
Internet:
www.osc.state.ny.us
E-Mail:
press@osc.state.ny.us
New
York Horsemen's Associations tackle workers' compensation issues
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 - from the SOA of New York |
|
|
Yonkers, NY --- On
Monday, July 13, George Karam of the Saratoga Harness
Horsemen’s Association hosted a meeting of representatives from
various New York State Harness Horsemen’s Associations,
representatives of the New York State Workers' Compensation Board
and the New York State Racing & Wagering Board in Saratoga
Springs, N.Y.
In addition to Karam, Bruce
Tubin represented the Western New York Harness Horsemen’s
Association, Rick Papa represented the Harness Horse Association
of Central New York, and Joe Faraldo and George Casale represented
the Standardbred Owners Association of New York. Steve Carbone and
Neil M. Gilberg were in attendance from the Workers' Compensation
Board, and Nicole Robilotto and Joanne Quell represented the New
York State Racing & Wagering Board.
Topics discussed were escalating
premiums for workers' compensation insurance in the State of New
York; why workers compensation insurance from other states was no
longer acceptable in New York; what groups should be included and
excluded from workers' compensation coverage; and the requirements
for workers' compensation coverage for a designated trainer.
The Workers' Compensation Board
representatives were very helpful in identifying issues and
recommending possible solutions, as were the two representatives
from the New York State Racing & Wagering Board.
There is no question that the
matter of workers' compensation insurance in New York State is
very complicated, involving multiple state agencies with divided
and competing interests, as well as a multitude of jurisdictional
issues. Though there is no quick fix, we believe we have taken the
first meaningful steps to address the problems and will be able to
fashion appropriate remedies.
|
Article from the New York Times
July 9, 2009
Drug Tests of Harness Horses Lagging in New York
By BILL FINLEY
Although New York racing regulators have recently tightened the
rules regarding the use of performance-enhancing drugs in racehorses,
the state is not testing harness horses for anabolic steroids or
conducting regular testing in the harness
industry for an illegal concoction known as a milkshake.
This comes even though horse owners began paying a $10 fee, imposed
in early May, for each thoroughbred and harness horse that runs in New
York.
The failure to provide thorough drug testing in harness racing
appears to be one of a number of problems with the state’s equine
drug-testing program. The program is conducted at the College
of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University and is, according to
the college’s dean, Dr. Michael I. Kotlikoff, underfinanced.
“Why aren’t we testing for more drugs?” Kotlikoff said.
“The fundamental answer is that the state, through the New York
State Racing and Wagering Board, has not provided sufficient funds.”
The state pays Cornell $4 million annually to conduct its
drug-testing program, a sum that Kotlikoff said is about $1.3 million
less than what it needs. The $10 fee is intended to raise about $1
million annually.
The shortfall has left horse owners discouraged.
“I was told they were testing for steroids and that they were
testing everywhere for the milkshakes,” said Kim Crawford, director
of the United
States Trotting Association, who is also a trainer and driver at
Saratoga Raceway. “The state is getting the $10 per horse from us
and that amounts to a lot of money. Now, we find out they’re not
doing the testing they’re supposed to be doing.”
Racing Board officials disagree with Kotlikoff’s assertion that
the state is not providing Cornell with enough money and insist that
much of the problem has to do with the university’s decision to
raise its fees for administrative costs. Traditionally, Cornell kept
12.3 percent of the money it received from the state for costs not
directly tied to drug testing. It recently raised that to 18 percent.
“State funding for equine drug testing at Cornell has increased
significantly over the past five years,” the Racing Board spokesman
Joe Mahoney said. “Cornell, in that time, has managed to boost the
percentage it keeps from that allotment. Cornell has been granted a
monopoly on this work, and we’re endeavoring to find an alternative
arrangement.”
But Kotlikoff said that Cornell is using that money to recoup costs
incurred by the drug-testing program in the past several years.
“They have come up with additional revenue with the $10 charge,
but it is not dedicated to steroid testing,” Kotlikoff said. “It
was to cover the overall program and to wipe out the existing
deficit.”
Despite the apparent financial crunch, Racing Board officials said
that the $10 fee will eventually wipe out Cornell’s deficit and that
increased testing will eventually be enacted.
“We are optimistic that the testing of harness horses will start
soon,” Mahoney said.
Kotlikoff said the situation might get worse. He said the building
that houses the drug-testing program is in such a state of disrepair
that the university may have no choice but to close it and end the
testing program. Should that happen, he said, the state could be
forced to have its testing done outside New York at a higher cost.
“The racing industry has said it will not recognize graded stakes
at tracks where the testing is done by labs that have not achieved
certain standards,” Kotlikoff said. “Because of that, Kentucky is
farming out drug testing to Florida at a cost that is roughly three
times more than the state pays to Cornell for an individual drug
test.”
According to Scot Waterman, the executive director of the Racing
Medication and Testing Consortium, the cost for an individual drug
test in New York, which is $55, is below the industry average.
One reason for the tests is to detect the use of a milkshake.
Cornell tests for the byproducts of a milkshake — a combination of
baking soda and other substances that delays the onset of lactic acid,
which makes a horse tired — on a random basis at the state’s
harness tracks. It is conducting tests at no more than three of the
state’s seven harness tracks.
Although testing in harness racing has been hurt the most by the
cash shortfall, the problem could have extended to thoroughbreds had
it not been for machinery purchased by the New York Thoroughbred
Horsemen’s Association for $500,000.
“Absent that contribution from the horsemen, we would not be
testing for steroids in the thoroughbreds, either,” Kotlikoff said.
July 10, 2009
NOTICE: USTA MEDICAL INSURANCE
EXCLUDES NEW YORK & NEW JERSEY
From SOAofNY
An article published June 17, 2009 by the
USTA states that they are now offering Health Insurance Benefits to
harness racing participant members seeking reasonable and enhanced
health insurance coverage.
Please be aware that while we attempted to
investigate the plans offered, and finally learned that such plans are
not available in New York or New Jersey, our inquiry stopped there.
Your ten bucks for Drug testing.
Where has it gone?
The SOA of NY has learned that the $10 being taken from the
horsemen's
share of earned purse money is being used for the NYSR&WB purposes
and not
as we were led to believe for the purposes of enhanced drug
testing.
The total available from these funds is projected to be in excess of 1
million dollars from all NYS tracks and was promised as an extra effort
to
secure a level playing field. To say we are more than disappointed is an
understatement.
Headlines | Posted 4/16/2009, 6:50 pm <javascript:PrintThisPage();>
javascript:PrintThisPage();
New York enacts testing fee
By David Grening
As a result of recent legislation, New York state rules mandate that,
effective May 7, owners pay a $10 entry fee to run a horse at any track
in
the state. The revenue will support the New York State Racing and
Wagering
Board's drug-testing program.
"We see this as the fairest way to raise the funds it requires to
enhance
our expanded integrity initiatives," said Joe Mahoney, spokesman
for the
racing board. "As of the beginning of this year, new rules went
into effect
greatly restricting the use of steroids in racing in New York. Our drug
testing lab at Cornell University is equipped to detect hundreds of
different substances.
"Given the profound economic difficulties facing this state and
nation, we
were not at all inclined to seek this revenue from New York
taxpayers,"
Mahoney added. "This nominal entry fee is a far better
alternative.''
Rick Violette, president of the New York Thoroughbred Horseman's
Association, said horsemen on the New York Racing Association circuit
have
already donated $500,000 for enhanced drug testing in the state.
Violette
said this new rule will cost NYRA owners $220,000.
"We've been ahead of the curve without any prodding," Violette
said.
"We've
led the industry to have state-of-the-art testing for steroids. We
thought
this was a bit piling on and wish it hadn't passed. It's penny-wise and
pound-foolish."
CONTRACT
UPDATE
12-31-08
Winter stall rent to remain @ $ 100.00 for this and
the next two winters after this one. Winter training will therefore, be
available during the 2008/2009, 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 winter
seasons.
No $2
per day or any amount for stall rent to offset the tracks CAFO charges
during racing season. The charge at Monticello is $1/ day. At Saratoga the
charge is unknown.
90
days of racing per year for duration of contract.
Term
of contract is two years term expiring December 31, 2010 with the 90-day
automatic extension.
VGM
percentage was negotiated to 8.375% for these two years
as an offset for the stall rent and winter stabling considerations and
to help management get healthier in these difficult economic
times, down from the 8.75% provided by statute. (This is similar to
considerations given by other tracks.)
A
committee will be formed to investigate ways of making a health
insurance plan more viable to all and contemplates getting together with
other horsemen's associations and track managements in an effort to gain
cost savings by increasing the insured population by joining various
memberships. A difficult but not impossible task we will be working on.
Gone
is the Conditional obligation where the HHA of CNY matched funds for
backstretch improvement. That obligation did help repair the barn roofs.
Gone
is the other Conditional obligation where the HHA of CNY contributed to
help get the place started once again in the form of a $250,000 grant
from our share of VGM revenues.
Gone
also is any contribution from our treasury to help start the meet in
2006, in the sum of $200,000 which along with the tracks advance insured
that we had a meet, even though it was only 30 days, in 2006.
Gone
also are the claims asserted by, and against us in the Arbitration which
is still pending but will be discontinued.
These
funds will help filter their way back into our purse account.
The
agreement as signed by us is now in the hands of the NYSR&WB and the
promised signed agreement by Management may already have been faxed
to the Board. In any event it appears that any hardship to our members
as a result of planned activities previously announced have been
cancelled and you needn't vacate your stalls or suffer any repercussions
for failure to do so. The Board of the HHA of CNY thanks you for your
patience and support through these tense times. Your commitment to the
Association makes results happen. We wish you all a healthy and a happy
new year and the best of racing luck here at Vernon.