New York Coupled Entry Rules Modified

New York state regulators have modified a couple of ways in which wagering on Thoroughbred races is conducted as part of an effort to boost field size and revenues for the industry.



The New York Gaming Commission on July 6 gave final approval to two rules clearing the way for more superfecta wagering on thoroughbred races and easing restrictions affecting requirements to decouple race entries of horses with common ownership or trainers.



The rules were proposed earlier this spring and only two public comments were received on the two plans: both were in support of the changes and both came from the New York Racing Association.



The new rules affect races at New York Racing Association tracks and upstate's Finger Lakes racetrack.



Under current rules, horses with a common ownership are coupled as a single "betting interest" unless they are being run in stakes races with purses more than $1 million. The new rule would lower the threshold before the requirement kicks in to stakes races with purses of $50,000 or more.



The change, according to a gaming commission staff document, is not absolute. "The commission steward would maintain authority... to require horses be coupled prior to the commencement on any particular race upon a finding that doing so is necessary in the public interest,'' the staff recommendation notes.



Moreover, in races with two or more horses that would otherwise be coupled for betting purposes, tracks "must take such actions" to ensure the public is informed about the common ownership or trainers.



Affected are horses with common managing owners or cases in which there is a "25% commonality" among non-managing owners. Two or more horses in a stakes race can currently have the same trainer and run uncoupled as long as the horses do not have common ownership interests.



The commission also gave final approval to a change in the Thoroughbred betting rule affecting superfecta wagering in coupled entries. The state in 1998 okayed superfecta wagering, which selects the winning order of a race's first four horses, but New York required prior approval from the state before a superfecta event is held. That prior permission by the Gaming Commission is now dropped with the new rule.



"The proposal will allow superfecta wagering with coupled entries by counting only the best finishing of the coupled horses for such wagers,'' according to the proposed rulemaking document the state published in May.



The new rule, according to the gaming commission, "will serve the best interests of thoroughbred racing by increasing the wagering opportunities that racetrack operators may offer to the wagering public.''



The change in the two New York Thoroughbred wagering rules comes after coupling restrictions were previously addressed in several other states, including Kentucky and Texas.