The New York State Gaming Commission (NYSGC) announced proposed consensus rulemaking regarding the furnishing of information in Thoroughbred racing, as well as the opening of public comment periods for amended coupling rules and owner licensing.
Consensus Rulemaking – Posted Information
The NYSGC has proposed consensus rulemaking that would allow racetracks to post relevant information available on websites, instead of requiring it to be physically displayed at the track. This rulemaking would also allow race entries to be made electronically.
Coupling
There has been a proposed amendment to the coupling rule that went into effect in 2025. “Related” horses—those with common ownership—may race as uncoupled, though the state’s steward would still have discretion to couple horses if it is deemed to be in the public’s interest.
Licensing for Non-Managing Owners
Also open for public comment is the proposal that the licensing requirement threshold be changed from 35 (or fewer) owners to 20 or fewer for non-managing owners. The ownership interest percentage would also be raised from 3% to 5% if a horse has more than 20 owners.
