NYS Seal

ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON RACING & WAGERING

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
ORAL TESTIMONY BY INVITATION ONLY

SUBJECT:
Equine Drug Testing in New York State

PURPOSE:
To Evaluate the Current Equine Drug Testing Program

Tuesday, November 17, 2009
11:00 a.m.
Legislative Office Building, Room 711-A
Albany, NY

The Equine Drug Testing Program is active at seven tracks throughout the State of New York, running a total of around 70,000 samples per year for a wide range of drugs. The program, run by the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, maintains a research program for developing and validating assay procedures to keep up with the demand for new and better means of detecting drugs in race horses.

The purpose of this hearing is to address the effectiveness of the program, the adequacy of current financing mechanisms, and to discuss ways that it can be more effective, as testing for prohibited substances in horse racing in New York State has become increasingly important to the integrity of the racing industry and the well-being of the horses.

Oral testimony will be by invitation only. Any persons wishing to present pertinent written testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form by November 16, 2009. It is important that the enclosed reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to fifteen minutes duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.

Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

J. Gary Pretlow
Member of Assembly
Chairman
Committee on Racing & Wagering


PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons invited to present testimony at the public hearing on Equine Drug Testing in New York State are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail, e-mail or fax it to:

Jonathan Lynch
Committee Assistant
Assembly Committee on Racing & Wagering
Alfred E. Smith Building - 23rd Floor
Albany, New York 12248
E-mail: lynchj@assembly.state.ny.us
Phone: (518) 455-4311
Fax: (518) 455-7095
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I plan to attend the following public hearing on Equine Drug Testing in New York State to be conducted by the Assembly Committee on Racing & Wagering on November 17, 2009.
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I plan to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to fifteen minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement.
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I will address my remarks to the following subjects:




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I do not plan to attend the above hearing.
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I would like to be added to the Committee's mailing list for notices and reports.
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I would like to be removed from the Committee's mailing list.
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I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required:




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