In December of 2016, the New York State Gaming Commission adopted a regulation requiring four hours of continuing education annually for all Thoroughbred trainers and assistant trainers licensed by the state of New York. There is a waiver available for trainers who are not stabled in New York and do not race regularly in the state. The rule reads as follows:
NYCRR § 4002.8. Qualifications for License, “In order to maintain a current license, trainers and assistant trainers must complete at least four hours per calendar year of continuing education courses approved by the commission. Trainers and assistant trainers who are not domiciled in New York and have 12 or fewer starts during the previous 12 months may request a waiver of this requirement from the State steward.”
To assist New York’s horsemen in complying with the rule, NYTHA hosts a minimum of four hours of Continuing Education Seminars each year. We will post details of upcoming events as they become available.
Upcoming CE Courses sponsored by NYTHA:
Proper Documentation and Payment of Employee Time Under New York State and Federal Law
Monday, Aug. 12, 2019, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Behind the Saratoga Rec Hall, Union Ave., Saratoga Springs, NY
CE Credit: Two Hours
The New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association will host a Continuing Education seminar entitled “Proper Documentation and Payment of Employee Time Under New York State and Federal Law” at Saratoga Race Course on Monday, Aug. 12 at 11 a.m. Trainers and assistant trainers who attend will earn two hours of CE credit toward the four-hour annual New York State Gaming Commission requirement. The seminar will be held in the tent behind the Rec Hall on Union Avenue, across from Gate 1 on the main track backstretch. Lunch will be served, and the seminar is free. Duration: 2 hours (90-minute presentation, 30-minute Q&A)
Ben Wilkinson, an attorney at Barclay Damon LLP, will conduct the presentation, which will focus on Department of Labor regulations that impact horse trainers. Topics will include updates to minimum wage regulations, proper tracking of time and wages, record-keeping requirements, split shifts, discretionary and non-discretionary bonuses, and how to deal with wage and hour audits.
Wilkinson concentrates his practice on labor and employment matters, representing employers before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the NYS Division of Human Rights, and federal and state courts regarding employment discrimination claims, wage and hour claims, and breach of employment contracts. He also represents employers in wage and hour audits conducted by the US and NY Departments of Labor.
In addition to the seminar, trainers can schedule one-on-one meetings with Wilkinson to review payroll practices. There will be a nominal fee for the meetings:
Trainers with fewer than 10 employees – $50
Trainers with 10-24 employees – $100
Trainers with 25+ employees – $250
For more information on the seminar and meetings, contact NYTHA Executive Director Andy Belfiore at abelfiore@nytha.com.
Links to on-line courses that are eligible for CE credit are listed below.
The Jockey Club Online Courses: The Commission has approved 11 separate continuing education modules available on The Jockey Club Advanced Horsemanship Program website: http://courses.Grayson-jockeyclub.org/course-index.
Once completed, the licensee will be asked to designate a racing jurisdiction to be notified. The licensee should direct The Jockey Club to advise the New York State Gaming Commission of completion of the training course.
NYS Gaming Commission Continuing Education Seminars on YouTube: The Commission has created four individual hour-long continuing education seminars available for free on YouTube:
- “Findings of the NYS Thoroughbred Post-Mortem Examination Program” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQSiRPfoUeA&t=29s
- “Risk & Protective Factors–How Can We Use Them to Prevent Injury?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8d63u_MvBA
- “Fetlock CT To Assess Proximal Sesamoid Bone Fracture Risk” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B72gbyVHki8
- “Challenges Specific to the Saratoga Meet” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lJW7WLO1PU&t=6s
- Record of Participation Certificate:
https://www.gaming.ny.gov/pdf/Record%20of%20Participation%20(video)form.pdf
If you have any questions, please contact New York State Gaming Commission Equine Medical Director Scott E. Palmer, V.M.D., Dipl. A.B.V.P., Eq. Practice, at 518-441-7916 or by email at Scott.Palmer@gaming.ny.gov.
