NYSGC Approves Preliminary Rules for All State Tracks
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New York State is advancing two new rules governing the horse racing industry, including expansion beyond New York Racing Association tracks a set of safety, construction, and sanitation requirements of housing at tracks for backstretch workers.
The New York State Gaming Commission approved preliminary action Oct. 28 on the two rules, which also include new time period restrictions for intra-articular injections for Thoroughbred racehorses.
The approval, without comment from the board, will kick off a public comment period and will need another vote by the panel sometime next year in order to take effect.
Earlier this year the regulatory panel advanced a large set of requirements for backstretch worker housing facilities. The measures track existing state health law standards for migrant farm worker housing, and cover everything from pest control steps to water and air temperature requirements to protections against fire and other safety hazards.
But those plans only called for being applied to backstretch housing at NYRA's three tracks. The new proposal would expand to include all tracks with backstretch worker housing, including Finger Lakes Racetrack and five harness facilities in New York State.
The second proposal advanced Monday would increase the restricted time period from seven to 14 days before a race for a Thoroughbred horse to receive an intra-articular injection of any substance. Officials said it matches a present 14-day restriction on a corticosteroid joint injections.
"The longer restricted period is expected to improve the safety of the horses and riders,'' according to a Gaming Commission staff document provided to the New York State board. The document noted that hyaluronic acid is a synthetic substance used to improve joint movement; that substance, along with its derivatives, would see the largest effect on a Thoroughbred horse's routine care if the rule is given final adoption.
"This proposal would in no way prevent the use of hyaluronic acid and other disease-modifying agents; it only would provide a time frame for their use that would protect the horse,'' the document said, adding that hyaluronic acid could continue to be administered via other means—such as orally—for up to 48 hours before a race.
"A 14-day waiting period would provide more time for a horse to be worked out at speed, providing a fuller opportunity to evaluate the treatment,'' the NYSGC document added.