NY Gaming Commission Approves Changes to Claiming Rules

The New York State Gaming Commission unanimously approved a motion to amend its Thoroughbred claiming rules during its Aug. 3 meeting—changes designed to expand the number of owners eligible to claim and delay claimed horses from racing out of state. 

Acting on what the NYSGC said was feedback from some horse owners and their representatives and having met with tracks executives and state horsemen groups, commissioners passed the following claiming rule modifications:

• Changing eligible claiming owners to those who have raced within the previous 120 days at a race meeting of the licensed or franchised association, or in the current or previous race meeting of the licensed or franchised association;
• Authorizing a claiming extension of 30 days, if granted by stewards, for owners holding a certificate of eligibility to claim, if the certificate holder had entered a claim but had lost the disposition by lot—referred to by horsemen as losing a shake;
• Modifying the rules regarding a follow-up start for a claimed horse. Specifically, if a horse is claimed, the horse shall not start in a claiming race for a period of 20 days (down from 30) from the date of the claim for less than 25% more than the amount for which such horse was claimed. For a period of 10 days thereafter, a horse is eligible to start for a claiming price equal to or greater than the price at which the horse had been claimed. On the 31st day, the horse may start in a claiming race for any price;
• Extending the period of time before a claimed horse can race out of state. A claimed horse shall not race outside New York for a period of 60 days (up from 30 days) from the date of the claim or the end of the meeting at which a horse was claimed, whichever period of time is longer. Exceptions remain in place for a horse to race in a stakes race in which the horse was nominated by its former owner, or when given approval by the stewards. The 60-day time period is 30 days from the end of the Finger Lakes season for horses claimed there.

In printed materials distributed before Thursday's meeting, the NYSGC wrote its intention in the rule modifications was to "develop changes that would retain the integrity of the claiming process, while recognizing horsemen's and track issues."

The NYSGC further indicated that a larger pool of owners should become eligible to claim under the modified rules; horses can resume racing after a claim in a more timely fashion if they desire to start their horse for the same claiming price; and an extension to the period before which a horse is eligible to race out of state may reduce the number of horses leaving the circuit and mitigate entry shortages at New York tracks.