Equine Practitioners Ass'n v. New York State Racing & Wagering Board

105 A.D.2d 215, 483 N.Y.S.2d 239, 1984 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 20691
CourtAppellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
DecidedDecember 20, 1984
StatusPublished
Cited by16 cases

This text of 105 A.D.2d 215 (Equine Practitioners Ass'n v. New York State Racing & Wagering Board) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Equine Practitioners Ass'n v. New York State Racing & Wagering Board, 105 A.D.2d 215, 483 N.Y.S.2d 239, 1984 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 20691 (N.Y. Ct. App. 1984).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Asch, J.

This action seeks to declare invalid rules adopted by the defendant New York State Racing and Wagering Board, effective July 1,1982, which regulate the administration of drugs to racehorses prior to their participation in pari-mutuel races.

The challenged rules are codified at 9 NYCRR parts 4012 and 4043 (as to thoroughbreds) and part 4120 (as to standardbreds). Certain provisions in the rules restrict the administration of drugs to a racehorse prior to the start of a program containing a race in which the horse is to compete. Those sections establish a schedule which provides that certain drugs may be used at any time up to race time (9 NYCRR 4043.2 [a]; 4120.2 [a]); that certain drugs may be administered by injection until 24 hours before the start of a racing program (9 NYCRR 4043.2 [b]; 4120.2 [b]); that certain drugs may be administered by any means until 48 hours before the start of a racing program (9 NYCRR 4043.2 [c]; 4120.2 [c]); that certain drugs may be administered by any means until 72 hours before the start of a racing program (9 NYCRR 4043.2 [d]; 4120.2 [d]); and that no other [217]*217drugs may be administered by any means within one week of the start of a racing program (9 NYCRR 4043.2 [e]; 4120.2 [e]).

The challenged regulations also require every practicing veterinarian licensed by the Board to keep written records regarding his treatment of racehorses (9 NYCRR 4012.4, 4120.8). In addition, the regulations restrict the possession on racetrack premises of hypodermic equipment and controlled substances to authorized individuals only, including veterinarians (9 NYCRR 4012.1, 4120.5). To that end, the rules provide that every person who accepts a license granted by the Board consents to any search and inspection that may be conducted on the grounds of a track in order to prevent and detect violations of the aforementioned provisions (9 NYCRR 4012.1 [d]; 4120.5 [d]). Those provisions are primarily directed not at veterinarians, whom the regulations expressly permit to possess hypodermic equipment on racetrack grounds, but at other licensees (e.g., horse trainers or grooms) whose possession of such equipment would be contrary to Board rules.

The challenged regulations are, in particular, sections 4043.2 and 4120.2, governing the administration of drugs prior to race time, superseding the Board’s former rules, which also sought to insure that horses would race free of medication. Under the former rules, thoroughbred racing and standardbred (harness) racing were covered by separate provisions with somewhat different wording, although they were interpreted and enforced identically.

As thus uniformly construed, the former rules imposed a blanket prohibition against the administration of any drug, for any purpose, within 48 hours of a horse’s race. (9 NYCRR former 4042.2, former 4120.4.) The former rules also forbade administering any drug, no matter how long before a race, which was “of such a character as could affect the racing condition of the horse” (thoroughbred rule) or which would “[stimulate or depress a horse” (harness rule).

The new rules promulgated by the Board were intended to provide a more flexible set of standards for trainers and veterinarians in administering drugs to a racehorse before it runs in a race. To that end, they establish a schedule which informs the horse’s trainer how long before the race time a particular drug may be given to a competing horse. Certain drugs, whose administration in the Board’s judgment would pose no threat to the integrity or safety of racing, are permitted to be administered right up to race time. The new rules also expressly permit a veterinarian to administer any drug to a horse, even within a [218]*218period proscribed by the rules, if in his (the veterinarian’s) judgment the drug is necessary for the “life or health of the horse.” (9 NYCRR 4012.4 [c]; 4120.8 [cj.)

The new regulations were formulated with the aid of Dr. George A. Maylin, the Board’s scientific consultant, who is director of the Board’s Drug Testing and Research program at Cornell University. The Board also claims that it solicited and took into account the views of certain practicing equine veterinarians and certain trainers. It must be noted that the regulations apply only to horses participating in a race. Thus, the person ultimately responsible for compliance with them is not the veterinarian, but the trainers. (9 NYCRR 4043.4, 4120.4.)

The original plaintiffs in this action were 21 veterinarians who are licensed by the State Board of Regents and who also hold licenses issued by the defendant Board. Those latter licenses allowed them access to a racetrack grounds where horses under their care are located. Subsequently, on plaintiffs’ cross motion, The Equine Practitioners Association, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation, was substituted as party plaintiff.

The complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief against the Board, and challenges the 1982 rules on several grounds. The plaintiff contends that the regulations arbitrarily distinguish among various drugs as to time and method of administration and, thus, constitute a denial of due process of law.

The complaint also asserts that the new rules improperly attempt to regulate the practice of veterinary medicine, thereby exceeding the Board’s statutory authority and usurping powers vested in the Board of Regents. The complaint also alleges that the regulations are burdensome in that they require racetrack veterinarians to keep certain records. Finally, the regulations are alleged to violate the constitutional protections against unlawful search and seizure.

After service of the complaint, the Board moved to dismiss it pursuant to CPLR 3211 (subd [a], par 7) for failure to state a cause of action. The Board asserted that the 1982 rules were within its power to promulgate, were reasonable, were not unduly burdensome, did not improperly seek to regulate veterinary medicine, and did not violate the constitutional protections against unlawful search and seizure.

Special Term treated the Board’s motion as one for summary judgment, since dismissal of the complaint alone would not be an affirmative declaration of the parties’ rights within the framework of the Board’s statutory responsibility. It found that [219]*219the complaint raised issues of fact concerning the practice of veterinary medicine and, by implication, the scope of the Board’s authority to regulate the activities of racetrack veterinarians.

On May 17,1984, this court granted leave to The Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) to file an amicus curiae brief. The HBPA is an organization of owners and trainers of thoroughbred horses. HBPA was concerned about the primary responsibility imposed upon trainers by parts 4120, 4012 and 4043 of the 1982 Board rules.

As noted, Special Term treated the motion herein as one pursuant to CPLR 3212. The parties also considered the motion as one for summary judgment. Thus, the issue presented is whether a material issue of fact exists which would preclude summary judgment in favor of the defendant Board (see Maybrown v Malverne Distrs., 57 AD2d 548).

Special Term erred when it found issues of fact to be present and denied summary judgment.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Ford v. New York State Racing & Wagering Board
107 A.D.3d 1071 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2013)
Pedersen v. Racing
46 A.D.3d 1072 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 2007)
Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, Inc. v. Pataki
798 N.E.2d 1047 (New York Court of Appeals, 2003)
Anobile v. Pelligrino
284 F.3d 104 (Second Circuit, 2002)
Anobile v. Pelligrino
66 F. Supp. 2d 472 (S.D. New York, 1999)
Formal Opinion No.
New York Attorney General Reports, 1989
Pullin v. Louisiana State Racing Com'n
477 So. 2d 683 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1985)
Equine Practitioners Ass'n, Inc. v. New York State Racing & Wagering Bd.
488 N.E.2d 831 (New York Court of Appeals, 1985)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
105 A.D.2d 215, 483 N.Y.S.2d 239, 1984 N.Y. App. Div. LEXIS 20691, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/equine-practitioners-assn-v-new-york-state-racing-wagering-board-nyappdiv-1984.