Senate-Assembly racing committees hold joint hearing
Speakers at a Senate-Assembly joint legislative hearing on the future of horse racing in New York yesterday recommended ways to improve conditions and make horse racing more viable in New York.
The hearing was chaired jointly by Senate Racing and Wagering Committee Chairman William Larkin of Cornwall-on-Hudson and Assemblyman Gary Pretlow of Mt. Vernon and Yonkers.
Larkin said after the hearing that the horse racing industry in New York State is struggling. ''With the right business model, we can develop a much needed economic stimulus for an industry that has the potential to generate even more jobs and revenue for New York,'' he said. And, that can be accomplished among other ways, by growing video lottery terminal gambling at racetracks, said Larkin.
''Fifteen percent of Delaware's state budget comes from the VLT's; West Virginia, 17 percent of their state budget is from the VLT's,'' he said. ''What we're saying that we need to be more specific and positive. The horseracing industry produces goods and services valued in New York alone of $1.7 billion annually.''
There are nine racetracks and over 400 thoroughbred breeding farms in New York, creating jobs and preserving open space, according to the New York State Horse Council.
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