USA
Canada
Australia
New Zealand
Europe
UK / IRE
Amid increasing protests over state-authorized subsidies to the horse racing industry, a coalition of racing, business, union, and farming interests is being formed to press the economic importance of the Thoroughbred and harness racing sectors in New York.
The group, called “We Are NY Horse Racing” and announced the morning of Sept. 29, has two dozen founding members, including the New York Racing Association, groups representing breeders and horsemen, several labor groups, OTBs, the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, and New York Farm Bureau.
The coalition, at www.nyhorseracing.com, plans to press its cause through events, paid media, and other means.
“New York’s horse breeders and farm owners have propelled the sport forward in recent years, and we look forward to contributing our collective voice to this important effort,” said Najja Thompson, executive director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders.
“We must do everything we can to secure the livelihoods of the backstretch community that keeps our racetracks running,” said Rev. Humberto Chavez of the New York Race Track Chaplaincy.
The coalition’s formation comes as racetracks in New York have faced growing opposition from an array of groups protesting everything from what they say are animal rights abuses at racetracks to tens of millions of dollars in government-authorized payments via various means that should be directed to other state programs.
The new coalition cited a 2018 report by the American Horse Council that found horse racing in New York has a $3 billion total economic impact and supports 19,000 jobs. There are 11 racetracks in the state, counting all breeds.
The coalition also includes several regional OTB groups, several harness racing organizations, the Backstretch Employees Service Team, Discover Saratoga, a Saratoga casino and hotel, and unions representing laborers, painters, and building and construction trades workers. Other members include the Long Island Contractors’ Association, the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, the Belmont Child Care Association, and the Empire State Harness Horsemen’s Alliance.
The range of the coalition’s membership would suggest the seriousness with which the racing industry takes the increasingly organized opposition to horse racing in New York.
“New York agriculture and horse racing go hand in hand, which is why our organization is pleased to be a part of We Are NY Horse Racing,” said Jeff Williams, the New York Farm Bureau’s public policy director.
“We’re proud to support this new coalition that will educate New Yorkers about the broad impact of the industry, including the employment of hundreds of unionized construction workers,” added Vincent Albanese, policy and public affairs director at the New York State Laborers’ Organizing Fund.
The group’s formation comes at a time when New York has a new governor, Democrat Kathy Hochul, who took office a month ago following the downfall of Andrew Cuomo. Hochul in the coming months will be putting together a new state budget, which could change—or not—how some horse racing industry payments are directed.
The coalition’s emergence also comes at a time when the state legislature has taken an increasingly left-leaning turn in the past couple of years and includes a number of Democrats—who control both houses—opposed to state-directed subsidies for many kinds of industries and who back redirection of such funds to social, education, and other government-funded programs.
From We Are NY Horse Racing
