N.Y. Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law Section 228
Pension plans for backstretch employees


1.

The commission may, as a condition of racing, require all trainers and owners engaged in racing at meetings of any corporation subject to its jurisdiction to participate in a pension plan or trust established, or which may be established, by trainers and owners for the benefit of stable employees (backstretch workers) regularly employed at such meetings; if the commission finds that participation in the plan by all such owners and trainers is in the best interests of racing and further finds, based upon certification by the trustees of such plan, that at least eighty percent of such trainers and owners have agreed in writing to participate, or are, in fact, participating therein.

2.

The commission shall, as a condition of racing, require any franchised corporation and every other corporation subject to its jurisdiction to withhold one percent of all purses, except that for the franchised corporation, starting on September first, two thousand seven and continuing through August thirty-first, two thousand twenty-four, two percent of all purses shall be withheld, and, in the case of the franchised corporation, to pay such sum to the horsemen’s organization or its successor that was first entitled to receive payments pursuant to this section in accordance with rules of the commission adopted effective November third, nineteen hundred eighty-three representing at least fifty-one percent of the owners and trainers using the facilities of such franchised corporation, on the condition that such horsemen’s organization shall expend as much as is necessary, but not to exceed one-half of one percent of such total sum, to acquire and maintain the equipment required to establish a program at a state college within this state with an approved equine science program to test for the presence of steroids in horses, provided further that the qualified organization shall also, in an amount to be determined by its board of directors, annually include in its expenditures for benevolence programs, funds to support an organization providing services necessary to backstretch employees, and, in the case of every other corporation, to pay such one percent sum of purses to the horsemen’s organization or its successor that was first entitled to receive payments pursuant to this section in accordance with rules of the commission adopted effective May twenty-third, nineteen hundred eighty-six representing at least fifty-one percent of the owners and trainers using the facilities of such corporation. In either case, any other horsemen’s organization may apply to the commission to be approved as the qualified organization to receive payment of the one percent of all purses by submitting to the commission proof of both, that (i) it represents more than fifty-one percent of all the owners and trainers using the same facilities and (ii) the horsemen’s organization previously approved as qualified by the commission does not represent fifty-one percent of all the owners and trainers using the same facilities. If the commission is satisfied that the documentation submitted with the application of any other horsemen’s organization is conclusive with respect to subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of this paragraph, the commission may approve the applicant as the qualified recipient organization. In the best interests of racing, upon receipt of such an application, the commission may direct the payments to the previously qualified horsemen’s organization to continue uninterrupted, or it may direct the payments to be withheld and placed in interest-bearing accounts for a period not to exceed ninety days, during which time the commission shall review and approve or disapprove the application. Funds held in such manner shall be paid to the organization approved by the commission. In no event shall the commission accept more than one such application in any calendar year from the same horsemen’s organization. The funds authorized to be paid by the commission are to be used exclusively for the benefit of those horsemen racing in New York state through the administrative purposes of such qualified organization, benevolent activities on behalf of backstretch employees, and for the promotion of equine research.

Source: Section 228 — Pension plans for backstretch employees, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/PML/228 (updated Jul. 21, 2023; accessed Mar. 23, 2024).

201
Incorporation
202
Restriction upon commencement of business
202–A
Liability of the directors of a franchised corporation
202–B
No debt of the state
203
Right to hold race meetings and races
204
Certificate of payment of stock
205
License for running races and steeplechase meetings
206
Franchise for running races and steeplechase meetings
207
Board of directors of a franchised corporation
208
Conditions of franchise award
209
Examination of the books and accounts by the state comptroller
210
Franchise termination
210–A
Relinquishment of franchise
211
Fair association, when entitled to privileges
212
Franchise oversight board
213
Project labor agreements
214
Acquisition of racing facilities
216
Disposition of racing facilities or certain assets
217
Revocation of licenses
218
Stewards at race meetings
219
Advertising or promotional material
220
Licenses for participants and employees at race meetings
220–A
Corporations continued
221
New York Jockey Injury Compensation Fund, Inc
221–A
Health insurance for jockeys
221–B
Health insurance for trainers
222
Notice to be posted upon grounds
223
Special police officers
224
Penalty for unlawful racing and betting
225
Registration of race horses
226
Increased or additional entrance fees
228
Pension plans for backstretch employees
229
Backstretch employees drug and alcohol rehabilitation eligibility
230
Membership in a national thoroughbred racing association
231
Pari-mutuel betting on horse races legalized
232
License to conduct pari-mutuel betting at race meetings for running races or steeplechases
233
Bond required of corporation conducting pari-mutuel betting
234
Place and manner of conducting pari-mutuel betting
235
Rules for the conduct of pari-mutuel betting
236
Disposition of pari-mutuel pools
237
Capital improvements
238
Disposition of pari-mutuel pools of the franchised corporation
239
Books and records of pari-mutuel betting
240
Yearly audit
241
Disposition of unpaid money due on account of pari-mutuel tickets not presented
242
Races for horses bred in the state
243
Free or reduced fee passes, cards or badges
244
Revocation of license or franchise
245
Hearing on refusal or revocation of license or franchise
246
Approval of plans of corporation
247
Racing zones
248
Racing season
249
Pari-mutuel employees to be citizens and residents
250
Power of commission to impose penalties
251
Definitions
252
New York state thoroughbred breeding and development fund
253
Powers of the fund
254
Resources of fund
255
Annual audit
256
Annual report
257
Actions against fund

Accessed:
Mar. 23, 2024

Last modified:
Jul. 21, 2023

§ 228’s source at nysenate​.gov

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