N.Y. Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law Section 237
Capital improvements


1.

For the purposes of this section, “capital improvement” shall mean any addition to, replacement of or remodeling of the physical plant, structures and equipment now or hereafter owned or leased by a racing corporation that is used or is to be used by such corporation in connection with the conduct of horse race meetings, and shall include improvements to land but not land itself.

2.

(a) Any non-franchised corporation authorized under this chapter to conduct pari-mutuel betting at a race meeting on races run thereat, may elect upon thirty days written notice to the commission to withhold from the pari-mutuel pool in addition to any other amounts required by this section, one percent of the total deposits in pools resulting from regular and multiple on-track bets; provided, however, that any such corporation withholding pursuant to this subdivision shall use at least fifty percent of such one percent exclusively for capital improvements as defined in subdivision one of this section subject to the rules and regulations of the commission. An amount, not to exceed fifty percent of such one percent, may be used for advertising and promotion expenses subject to the rules and regulations of the commission. For the purposes of this paragraph the term “advertising” shall be limited to paid advertising through radio, television, the print media, direct mail or billboards. Promotions shall mean activities that are intended to increase the attendance at, or visibility of, any such corporation and shall include premium giveaways, prizes, free admission, free parking, free programs, additional monies for purses or other activities of a promotional nature that stimulate on-track attendance. In no event shall this section be construed to permit the payment of salaries to employees of any such corporation who are engaged in advertising or promotional activities, provided, however, that monies credited to such capital improvement account on or before July first, nineteen hundred ninety-six, as certified by the commission, shall not be expended for any such advertising and promotion as defined herein. Such election shall terminate upon thirty days written notice to the commission.

(b)

At least once annually, prior to approving any plan for the expenditure of such capital improvement funds pursuant to this section, the commission shall, together with the track operator and representatives of the horsemen’s organization representing owners and trainers using the facility and representatives of the jockeys organization representing licensed jockeys and apprentice jockeys regularly riding or exercising at such facility, inspect the entire facility, including the area commonly referred to as the backstretch, in order to determine whether the capital improvement plan submitted by the corporation for commission approval includes adequate provision for expenditures relating to the continued health, safety and well-being of patrons, jockeys, backstretch personnel and the horses in their care. After such inspection, if the commission shall determine that such proposed plan does not include adequate provision for repairs and improvements necessary to correct any conditions that it has determined to be unsafe or otherwise deleterious to the health and safety of patrons, jockeys, employees or horses, the commission shall require the track operator to modify its capital improvement plan to provide for the expenditure of funds for such repairs and improvements.

3.

On or after July first, nineteen hundred ninety such amounts as may be withheld for the purposes of this section shall be deposited in a trust fund, kept and maintained by such corporation and administered by a trustee approved by the commission for the purpose of lending such sums and any interest thereon on an unsecured basis to such corporation exclusively for capital improvements as defined in subdivision one of this section. All such amounts borrowed by such corporation from such trust shall be forgiven and deemed satisfied according to a schedule of depreciation deductions for federal and New York state income tax purposes for such related capital improvements. It is further provided that at such time as such corporation shall surrender its pari-mutuel license or franchise or fail to apply for a pari-mutuel license for the succeeding year by December thirty-first of the preceding year that the commission may declare the trust fund at an end and all sums therein deposited plus all sums due or owing from such corporation to such trust shall be disposed of in accordance with provisions of law to be enacted for such purpose. Such trust shall be established and administered pursuant to the rules and regulations of the commission.

Source: Section 237 — Capital improvements, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/PML/237 (updated Oct. 16, 2020; 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:
Oct. 16, 2020

§ 237’s source at nysenate​.gov

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