All New Yorkers Owe Horse Industry a Debt of Gratitude
ELMONT, NY, October 17, 2012—It is perhaps is an unintended, positive consequence that
Tuesday’s Equine Industry Economic Impact Study comes during the run-up to Saturday’s
Showcase day at Belmont Park, where a series of stakes races celebrate the best New York-bred
racehorses.
The study, combined with recent television advertising informing the citizenry how New York’s
gambling industry in all its manifestations sends kids through school. Parenthetically, I’m sure
my share of betting handle alone has sent at least one graduating class on to the next chapter of
their lives.
I used to be somewhat apologetic about what I did for a living and I often recall a conversation
my wife had with a fellow customer while waiting on a long line at the local supermarket in
Syosset one afternoon.
So the shopper asks Toni, “…and what does your husband do for a living?”
“He’s a handicapper,” Toni said.
“Oh, I’m sorry to hear that,” empathized the woman.
To this day, neither of us knew whether that woman thought I had a physical disability or just a
sizable flaw in my character. It wasn’t until I moved to Saratoga that I no longer felt compelled
to apologize for, or over-explain, what I did for a living.
And that’s what makes those gambling spots on TV and yesterday’s report, commissioned in
large part by the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, so gratifying. Indeed, late is
better than never.
Don’t look now but racing in New York State is on the rebound and actually might come out of
this economic and aesthetic recession in much better shape than could have been realized as far
back as, well, the beginning of this week.
I have realized since becoming totally immersed in the racing business via a career in racing and
sports media—as well as recently having a cup of coffee as a Thoroughbred owner—how
important horse racing is in state for some time but never realized to what extent. To wit:
The horse industry, in all its manifestations, contributes $4.2 billion to the state’s economy and is
responsible for 33,000 full-time jobs, according to a Massachusetts-based research firm.
State and local taxes of $187 million are distributed among all of the state’s 62 counties.
Racetracks, horse farms, training centers, riding academies, horse shows, etc., account for the
preservation of 1.3 million acres of green space. The horse population in New York numbers
157,500.
“It comes as no surprise that the equine industry creates tens of thousands of jobs. There is so
much that goes into the raising and training of a horse. It is a very labor-intensive business,"
explained horse trainer and NYTHA president, Rick Violette.
The numbers support this observation. There are 23,100 horses alone, nearly as many horses that
will be born in the entire country this year, according to the Jockey Club’s data.
Every racehorse, from stakes winner to claimer, impacts the state’s bottom line by $92,100.
Every 100 horses require 80 workers to tend to their needs, many of whom labor on the state’s
23,000 family-owned horse farms, stables and other equine facilities, the trickle down impacting
various other state and local businesses.
Who knew?
The study, http://www.nytbreeders.org/pdf/EquineStudy.pdf, was instructive beyond
Thoroughbred racing’s interests. State Senator John Bonacic, in addition to obvious destination
communities such as Saratoga, related the impact the “Horse in the Sun” show had on the Town
of Saugerties, where 15 million private sector dollars were used to construct a high end hotel,
restaurant and conference center.
Critics of the VLT initiative, warning of its double-edged sword capability, should realize, too,
how those dollars--no matter how temporary they might turn out to be--have acted as a stimulus
for creating new revenue. In 2005, the horse industry’s economic impact was $2.4 billion. The
study’s figures show a 75% increase post VLTs.
Handle at Yonkers Raceway currently is an estimated 15% higher than it was in 2005. The
Standardbred broodmare population has grown 25% and stud fees for New York’s Standardbred
stallions are up 140%. It all started with the VLTs initiative.
While the Thoroughbred industry awaited VLTs from 2004 and 2011, the state lost over 4,000
Thoroughbred industry jobs. One hundred of the state’s 400 Thoroughbred farms closed. The
New York Thoroughbred foal crop dropped 34%. More than half of the Thoroughbred breeding
stallions were shipped out of state.
This year, however, 500 new broodmares were relocated to New York this year and, through
May, there has been a 39.4% increase in the number of foals reported. Farms are reopening and
renovating and breeders from Kentucky, including the Vinery and Sheikh Mohammed, have
begun sending stallions to New York.
Handle has increased at New York Racing Association meets this year, averaging double-digit
increases. Yes, the shuttering of New York City Off Track Betting was responsible for much of
the gains but, on balance, gift horses have been nowhere to be found.
Governor Andrew Cuomo is expected to announce his new NYRA Board trustees any day now.
Hopefully, they will include appointees who know something about what happens between the
fences of New York’s three major Thoroughbred tracks. They don’t have to care.
To paraphrase a wise political operative from that same side of the aisle, who once said a few
presidential campaigns ago: It’s the jobs, stupid.
Written by John Pricci