Photo Credit: Tom Killips/NYTHA

NYTHA represents the owners and trainers racing the NYRA tracks, addressing the issues big and small that impact New York’s horsemen. At the top of that agenda is safeguarding VLT revenue, which has spurred significant growth for the racing industry in New York, creating jobs and increasing revenue for the state while maintaining a purse structure that makes racing more economically viable for owners. Other issues of importance include protection of racing dates, ensuring that horsemen share in all gaming revenue, racetrack operations and capital improvements, and all other concerns important to the future of horse racing in New York. NYTHA works in conjunction with the State Legislature, the Executive Branch, NYS Gaming Commission, New York Thoroughbred Breeders, NYRA, local and national racing industry groups and academic institutions to achieve our collective goals.

Every year, NYTHA hosts a reception in Albany that gives our President and Board members the opportunity to meet with legislators and educate them on the industry and the problems we face.

NYTHA maintains a New York horsemen’s Political Action Committee Fund, used to promote the legislative agenda in Albany. The successes at recent state legislative sessions included:

• Horsemen and Breeders regained vote on the NYRA board
• Horsemen and Breeders awarded a mandated contract with NYRA that protects winter racing dates
• Safety Task Force established, bringing racetracks to the table with horsemen, jockeys and the Gaming Commission to set best practices for improving safety and protecting horses, jockeys and exercise riders
• New York Jockey Injury Compensation Fund legislation amended to provide the NYJICF with the ability to explore alternative forms of workers’ compensation coverage and expansion to cover all backstretch workers, with the goal of lowering prohibitive cost of workers’ comp insurance for New York horsemen

Suggested contribution amounts are merely a suggestion. Members should feel free to contribute up to the legal maximum per year or less than the suggested contribution, or not at all. Click here for complete NYS Election Law Guidelines on Contribution Limits. 

Contributions to NYTHA PAC are not tax-deductible.