NY Gov. Hochul Signs into Law Horse Welfare Legislation

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed a measure into law to expressly ban the sale of racehorses or breeding stock for slaughter, require microchipping of all racehorses to better track their whereabouts when finished racing, and to create a tax checkoff for residents to contribute to a fund dedicated to retired racehorse aftercare efforts.

The legislation, backed by industry stakeholders, was approved by state lawmakers last June and signed into law Dec. 1 by Hochul.

The anti-slaughter provision, which takes effect immediately, prohibits the slaughter of racehorses and racehorse breeding stock and makes it unlawful for any person or entity to sell, barter, purchase, possess, transport, or receive a horse for the "intent of slaughtering" it.

Violations are punishable with a criminal misdemeanor charge, as well as a $1,000 per horse or $2,500 per business entity for first violations, as well as the possible loss of a license to be engaged in racing in the state.

The sponsors of the bill, Senator Joseph Addabbo Jr. of Queens and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow of Westchester, both Democrats, said in a bill memo earlier this year that the Thoroughbred industry has taken major steps to try to ensure the safety and health of retired racehorses. "But the state has an obligation to ensure greater participation,'' wrote the two lawmakers, who chair the Senate and Assembly racing committees.

The measure comes as the horse racing industry is under increasing fire from animal rights groups. Last month, legislation was introduced in the state Assembly—it has not yet been picked up in the state Senate—to re-direct $230 million in video lottery terminal casino money that now goes to tracks, purses, and breeding funds to other programs, such as public school funding.

The new law signed Wednesday also bans any horse from competing in any race unless it has been microchipped with that information provided to The Jockey Club or other such organizations depending on the kind of horse event. The New York State Gaming Commission will also be given access to the microchip information.

It also puts into law a provision that Thoroughbred and Standardbred breeding funds have dedicated funding streams for retired racehorse aftercare programs and dedicates any fine money collected by the state against anti-slaughter provisions to go to aftercare programs and facilities.

Legal liability for the slaughter provision is limited to the last person or entity in the chain of a horse's ownership, and the law puts on the books certain notification responsibilities on sellers and purchasers of a horse. 

The state Agriculture Department must also undertake an information campaign to make various players—from horse owners to dealers and recreational horse businesses—aware of the new law's anti-slaughter provisions. It must also have a public awareness effort about the tax return write-off program for horse aftercare initiatives—joining that funding stream with a long list of current write-off programs for everything from breast cancer research to wildlife, volunteer firefighter, and homeless veterans efforts.

The law was pushed by various stakeholders, including the New York Racing Association, New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, and the New York Thoroughbred Breeders. NYRA has already had a policy in place whereby owners or trainers stabled at a NYRA track will have their stall rights permanently revoked if it is found they sold a horse for slaughter.

"New York State has long been the national leader when it comes to responsibly protecting our retired racehorses. Due to the work of Senator Addabbo and Assembly Member Pretlow, this legislation furthers that commitment while codifying into law many of the best practices developed in recent years by NYRA, New York's horsemen, and breeders across the state. NYRA supports all elements of this important legislation, and we thank Gov. Hochul for prioritizing the health and safety of horses in New York,'' NYRA senior director of communications Patrick McKenna said after the bill was signed into law.

"Every stakeholder in the horse racing industry shares the responsibility of ensuring safe and healthy lives for racehorses after they have retired,'' Addabbo and Pretlow said in their bill memo.