This is a wonderful step in attempting to protect horses. No, it isn’t perfect- nothing is- however, it attempts to take some responsibility, and oversight. Me likee the idea…
I liked it sort of until the comment that it was not clear how much this effort would cost and who would pay for it.
Nothing drives me crazy like a “feel good” bill like this but poorly thought out about how this whole commission will work and who gets to pay for it… I like the concept but that’s about as far as it went 
Just my cynical self…
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Hence the word intent…
Except that word wasn’t in your post or the linked to BH article 
It’s in the title?
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I totally agree. The problem is the reporting penalty. Many of the people who take OTTBs take them with the intent of starting them in a new career as a resale prospect. We really need the project people to get these horses started in a new career and can’t make it more burdensome than it already is for them to take that risk. If anything, they should be getting a bonus once the horse posts a show or competition record somewhere. We need incentives, not penalties.
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Regarding ‘intent’.
Laws (and yes, this is a proposed law) shouldn’t be “feel good” intent laws. They should be crisp and clean with a well defined problem and solution and clarify the cost of implementing and the ongoing cost.
All to often the feds and the states love to pass “feel good” bills (aka laws) with no thought to cost and the local jurisdictions or whomever will be directly impacted faces the “unfunded mandate”; someone gets stuck with the $ but not the people who passed the law.
Silent in the bill is how much the commission’s work will cost or who will pay for it.
Another thing that gave me pause was
Of 3,894 horses that raced in that period, the commission was able to locate 1,871 horses.
2,204 horses could not be found and are still being looked for.
Another thing that gives me pause is
Each violation of the measure’s provisions can be assessed a fine up to $500—if violators are a resident of New York State.
Sounds like time to sell that summer house in update New York.
What potential negative impact would this bill have on racing in New York? Maybe in the long run, not much as it would apply to New York-breds that are retired. Would that mean the breeding business will drop off as breeders won’t want to deal with all the mandatory reporting required?
I’m all for supporting aftercare programs that re-train and re-home OTTBs when their career is finished. I’m all for going after trainers and tracks that knowingly send horses to low end auctions where kill buyers are known to frequent.
I’m also a bit unclear that there are sufficient funds in the ether to pay for all the maintenance and care required for every single retired OTTB that isn’t destined for the breeding shed to carry on the breed. Who pays for this? What happens to those horses?
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We can agree to disagree. I’m fine with that. The fact that they are trying to do something to provide a safety net for these horses is, for me, a good thing. We walk before we run. Sometimes, it takes time to have these guys gain a full understanding of the issues, and move in a better direction. However, I am happy that they are trying something.
My breed of horse has no safety net, the breeders and trainers aren’t doing a thing, and the horses routinely end up at risk. I’d take a little something like this, tweaked to fit, just to start with, any day of the week.
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I disagree about the reporting penalty being too onerous. How much does it take for an owner to fill out a form online (assuming that’s the method), and the next owner to do the same? It should sure show if there’s a large number of horses heading towards somewhere with someone that doesn’t keep them for long… Or from where they disappear. The reporting penalty to them should be a burden one would hope.
And as long as they don’t use this for a vehicle to constantly charge tax… Although I can see that being an issue.
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To register a horse with the jockey club as “retired from racing” the owner has to fill out a form, get the signatures notarized (owner and buyer), take photos and send all that plus the original papers to the JC. It’s a pain. And many of these horses DO absolutely go to OTTB restarters who DON’T keep them for long. Too few people have the skills to restart a tb, hence the need for the restarters.
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Well the notary part was never required of me for my current guy. But then again, our managing partner was pretty shady. Although my guy was registered for one or more of the award programs.
Never had to go through any notary requirements years ago either.
That requirement would be a PITA, but if not necessary, would still like to see these registrations go into place.
And agree most should go for retraining before being let lose on the general public. Was reminded of that just this weekend seeing so many “now what do I do?” new owners on FB. Problem is, several old school trainers have gone the way of what’s in with few, if any, Thoroughbreds in their barns. So happy for the retirement programs as they sure fill a need.
But even some who call themselves “trainers” these days are pretty soft experience wise. Plenty inexperienced trainers/barn owners in my neck of the woods who screw up their faces if you bring in a Thoroughbred.
Still would really like a registration program in place. Maybe we can see how NY handles it. Heaven knows we have plenty of regulations here already. 
And trainers I think well of retraining wise in this area I believe would also embrace anything that helps stop the abuses, auctions, the trucks north/south.
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By the way - if anyone is interested, you can check the list of horses with unknown retirements here.
https://www.gaming.ny.gov/horseracing/index.php?ID=2
You have to scroll down (below the video) to: “Can you help locate the remaining horses?” and click on the Excel or PDF doc.
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Thanks for that CVPeg.
I agree with the OP - any steps that are taken to raise awareness and help protect our TBs after racing are IMO steps in the right direction.
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I think it’s positive there is publicity that at least some people are concerned and recognize there is a need but…a 7 member politically appointed committee in a single state is not the best way to go even with funding to waste. No power or jurisdiction over bigger player states in the breeding business, no real solution on the horizon and well intended studies with skimpy statistical base after they leave the track are just feel good money pits.
Theres no easy answer but IMO social media has raised considerable awareness in even casual race fans compared to where it stood back when. Unfortunately the big money and ability to influence public opinion is with the betting interests. Unlike the vast majority of actual horsemen, hard core bettors don’t care and would be unimpressed by such a committee.
Sorry, O/T!
I am confused, but in a different way:
I’ve much trouble reading these past months. Question:
When did: “I am really liking” (instead of “I like.”) and that entire way of type-speaking become the norm?
I can understand if English is ones second language. But this seems to be a written/typing fad, rather than spoken.
Who knows.
I just know I would never say to my friend, husband or sister: “I am really loving this steak/salad/soup!” at a dinner.
< minor rant over. Sorry! It just puzzles me>
FYI ~ Please no offense to you, ASB Stars! I just see this everywhere.
My thought was ‘why??’
Then I thought: people are around many different people; many
learning English ~ Perhaps we are picking-up their ways of speaking English, as well they pick-up our slang and such?
Am liking implies you are currently enjoying. Nothing sounds weird about either of those uses! Not picking on you, just got a notification about my post which led me to this
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Thank you drafting_dots.
My eyes are getting ahead of me in age ~ more difficult read.
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I like vs I’m liking. I’m liking is a groovy way of saying “me like”. I used to be part of the ‘English police’, but then I realized I’m liking slang more and more. 
Back on topic. I’m for any and all ideas that will help the horses. Naysayers will neigh and players will play. (dang I’m enjoying this) Seriously, sometimes you’ve got to go outside the box and give it a try. If it doesn’t work you just go back and try again. Wringing your hands and saying “this won’t work” isn’t helpful.
Save a horse from the low end auction, one that is known to be the one that attracts kill buyers, check.
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It won’t work. It’s punative in nature and requires owners to go through a registration process. It will ultimately deter people from considering OTTBs due to the penalties and requirements for those who are left holding the bag.
“The bill puts reporting requirements on horse owners, requiring reports to be filed with the state within 72 hours of any ownership change of a retired racehorse, along with contact information about owners and other recordkeeping rules. The death of a former racehorse must also be reported to a state registry within 72 hours. Each violation of the measure’s provisions can be assessed a fine up to $500—if violators are a resident of New York State.”
As I pointed out before, few people have the skills to take a horse right off the track and make it a good solid citizen and keep it forever. Most people who take horses right off the track start them in a second career and move them along to a less skilled rider who is looking for a green prospect who has already shown an aptitude for that second career. So race horse owne might know the requirements, and off the track trainer might know the requirements, but the competition rider might NOT be familiar with the requirements and might move the horse along several years later due to whatever common reasons people sell horses. So the race horse owner and the person who took the horse right off the track are now on the hook for whatever “violations” this commission puts out there at $500 per pop should this horse turn up at an auction 10 years later. And also, how will this be funded? By the penalty money???
You can look up a horse’s connections as of last start for FREE on Equibase. Those people are already being held accountable when horses show up at auctions.
What IS working are the “thoroughbred” shows and divisions at competitions where they award points, year end awards and prize money. People in my area actively look for tbs to participate in those activities. Instead of putting the onus on the owner to have to fill out forms, take pictures, etc, the tbs need to AUTOMATICALLY be eligible for awards andprizes based on what they do after retiring from racing. The AQHA has a program where riders log hours and get prizes and awards simply for riding - no competition required. And it’s open to all breeds. Why not do something similar for tbs instead of penalizing those who do take one on?
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How are the original owners ‘on the hook’ after the horse has been sold? The new owners are now responsible. And how hard is it to send the papers and explain to new owners that this is a requirement and they will be fined?
When I’ve sold a vehicle in the post, I met the buyer at DMV to have the vehicle transferred. Now I immediately change it via the website. Not hard, not difficult, not cumbersome. Just do it and it’s done. Dust your hands off and move on.
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