The Government of New York has signed a bill into law which deals with combating racehorse and breeding stock slaughter on December 1, 2021.
Key Highlights:
- The Act amends the agriculture and markets law with respect to prohibition of the slaughter of race horses and race horse breeding stock.
- The Act also amends the racing, pari-mutuel wagering and breeding law with respect to requiring horses to be microchipped.
- Further, the tax law has been amended in relation to gifts for thoroughbred and standardbred race horse aftercare.
- The purpose of the Act is to regulate the aftercare of retired race horses; prohibits the slaughter of race horses and race horse breeding stock; requires that race horses be microchipped; provides for gifts for thoroughbred aftercare on tax returns.
- The law seeks to establish criminal penalties for those that send a horse to slaughter in violation of the provisions of this new law.
- The law also imposes financial penalties of $1,000 per horse for an individual owner and $2,500 for a corporate owner for a first violation and up to $2,000 per individual and $5,000 per corporation for subsequent violations. The responsibility and legal liability for violations will be limited to the last individual or corporation in the chain of ownership of the horse as reflected in the respective breed registries.
- The violations could also affect those licensed by the New York State Gaming Commission.
- The law took effect immediately, with certain sections taking effect on Jan. 1, 2022.