New York State Gaming Commission

The two jockeys currently ranked second and third for wins this season at Finger Lakes are both facing sanctions for their roles in two separate races last week in which one rider was piloting a long shot that altered course while the other rider was aboard the beaten favorite. According to a stewards' ruling posted Aug. 8 on the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) website, jockey John Davila, Jr., who has been riding at Finger Lakes since 1983, has been fined $500 "for riding in manner contrary to the...

A proposed change to claiming rules in New York would double the time that a claimed horse must refrain from racing outside the state, from 30 to 60 days. In addition, in an effort to make it easier to acquire Thoroughbreds via claims, another proposed change would extend time periods for owners to be eligible to claim horses. Those measures, plus several other tweaks to the "Who may make claim" rule 4038.1, were advanced by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) at Thursday's monthly meeting. There was zero discussion...

Tyler Gaffalione is appealing a three-day "careless riding" suspension imposed by the Saratoga Race Course stewards in the aftermath of his mount being disqualified in the second race there Friday. Gaffalione was on the lead aboard 19-1 maiden Hero's Medal (Medaglia d'Oro) in a nine-furlong race July 14. According to the Equibase chart, the colt "was given his cue at the five-sixteenths, spun into the stretch in the two path under a drive, came in some and bumped solidly with Mount Craig [Arrogate] near the three-sixteenths, was turned in some...

Thoroughbreds in New York would be required to pass a health check 72 hours prior to a race or workout if a new rule proposed Monday by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) gets adopted after passing a public commentary period and a final vote by the commission at a future meeting. The proposal that got put into the pipeline by unanimous voice vote after zero discussion among commissioners on Monday would require a trainer's attending veterinarian to conduct the 72-hour fitness exams. These health checks would be in...

Just a few days after the running of this year's GI Belmont S., the final leg of the Triple Crown was back in the news. With the Belmont grandstand set to be torn down after the 2024 spring meet and with the new stands not expected to be ready until 2026, the 2025 Belmont S. will likely need a home. And after hinting that the race could be run in Saratoga, the New York Racing Association was more specific when the topic was addressed early last week. When asked by...

Compromised air quality due to Canadian wildfires forced the cancellation of racing following the third race at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack in upstate New York Tuesday. The track cited New York State Gaming Commission safety recommendations for the cancellation. Racing is scheduled to resume at Finger Lakes Wednesday with a first post time of 1:20 p.m.

Richard E. Dutrow, Jr., was approved for a training license by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC)'s license review committee Tuesday. The voice vote was unanimous and without drama, and Dutrow's license goes into effect immediately. Dutrow in February had regained his license to train horses in New York after sitting out a 10-year revocation imposed by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC). The 63-year-old GI Kentucky Derby-winning trainer with the long and controversial history of racing infractions has a 1-1-1 record from six starts at Belmont Park since...

Richard E. Dutrow, Jr., who in February regained his license to train horses in New York after sitting out a 10-year revocation imposed by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC), is on the agenda for the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC)'s license review committee meeting on Tuesday to try and regain his license in that state. The 63-year-old GI Kentucky Derby-winning trainer with the long and controversial history of racing infractions has a 1-1-1 record from three starts at Belmont Park since rebooting his career with fresh stock May...

The veterinarian deemed responsible for causing a six-horse field to scratch down to two runners by failing to administer Lasix to four horses at Belmont Park last week has been fined $8,000 by the New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC). The May 25 ruling stated that Dr. Steven Lascher failed "to follow proper Lasix procedures" in  the third race on May 19. A New York Racing Association (NYRA) spokesperson had told TDN in the initial aftermath of the unintended match race that Lascher was "no longer employed by NYRA." It...

The three New York stewards met with Trainer Todd Pletcher and his representation Wednesday "regarding an alleged medication violation of a horse that raced in New York on September 5, 2022," according to Brad Maione, Director of Communications for the New York State Gaming Commission. Maione was answering an email request from the TDN for information on the meeting. "In this case, the matter likely would have been adjudicated months ago but for the repeated procedural delays sought by the trainer's counsel," Maione wrote. According to a report in Tuesday...

New York State's Responsible Play Partnership (RPP), consisting of the New York State Gaming Commission, New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and the New York Council on Problem Gambling, is holding multiple events to drive attention to the issue as part of the 20th anniversary of National Problem Gambling Awareness Month. On Mar. 10 at 11 a.m., the RPP will hold a press conference at the Javits Center with National Council on Problem Gambling (NCPG) Executive Director Keith Whyte to highlight the treatment and service options...

The notice began appearing on the overnight in early January. "By order of the stewards. Pursuant to NYSGC RULE 4033.8. Effective February 1st, only equipment specifically approved by the stewards shall be worn or carried by a jockey or a horse in a race. No equipment change (including shoes) will be allowed once the overnight is published." "There is no new rule," wrote Brad Maoine, Director of Communications for the New York State Gaming Commission in response to TDN's request for information about the new posting on the overnight. "The...