sb 0450

CHAPTER 59

SB 450-FN – FINAL VERSION

AN ACT relative to pari-mutuel licenses, and relative to trainer responsibility for the condition of horses and dogs.

SPONSORS: Sen. Morse, Dist 22; Sen. D’Allesandro, Dist 20; Sen. Sapareto, Dist 19

This bill eliminates the restriction on one pari-mutuel licensee from holding more than one license.

This bill also makes trainers of horses and dogs responsible for the condition of horses and dogs under their control when used for racing.

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

AN ACT relative to pari-mutuel licenses, and relative to trainer responsibility for the condition of horses and dogs.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

284:16-a Issuance of Licenses. If the greyhound racing commission is satisfied that all the provisions hereof and the rules and regulations prescribed have been and will be complied with by the applicant and that the financial backing upon which said application is predicated is sound and is committed in support of said application, it may issue a license which shall expire on the thirty-first day of December. [~~No licensee shall hold more than one license under RSA 284:16 (running or harness horse) while holding a license under this section.~~] The license shall set forth the name of the licensee, the place where the races or race meets are to be held, and the time and number of days during which racing may be conducted by said licensee. Any license issued shall not be transferable nor assignable. Said commission shall have power to revoke any license for good cause upon reasonable notice and hearing. The commission may at any time for cause require the removal of any employee or official employed by any licensee hereunder. The license of any corporation shall automatically cease upon the change in ownership, legal or equitable, of 50 percent or more of the voting stock of the corporation and the corporation shall not hold a dog race or meet for public exhibition without a new license. Any New Hampshire agricultural fair association certified as such, by the commissioner of agriculture, markets, and food, shall be entitled to one special 6-day license annually to hold a dog race meet.

59:2 Pari-mutuel Pools; Extension of Termination Date. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 284:22 to read as follows:

284:22 Pari-Mutuel Pools. During the calendar years of 1941-[~~2009~~] 2029, a licensee under this chapter may sell pari-mutuel pools in accordance with this chapter and rules adopted by the commission. Pari-mutuel pools shall be sold within the enclosure of the racetrack where a licensed race or race meet is held or as provided in RSA 284:22-a, and not elsewhere.

59:3 Pari-mutuel Pools; Extension of Termination Date. Amend the introductory subparagraph of RSA 284:22-a, II(a) to read as follows:

II.(a) During the calendar years 1941-[~~2009~~] 2029, a licensee may sell pari-mutuel pools on races held at racetracks other than the racetrack at which the licensee conducts its race meet, provided:

59:4 New Section; Trainer as Insurer. Amend RSA 284 by inserting after section 38 the following new section:

I. The trainer of record shall be responsible for and shall be the insurer of the condition of any kind of horses or dogs used for the purposes of racing, which such trainer of record enters to race. For purposes of this section, trainer of record means the person registered and identified as trainer of such horse or dog used for the purpose of racing in the records of the pari-mutuel commission.

II. The pari-mutuel commission, through its judges or stewards, may impose sanctions or penalties upon the trainer of record resulting from the condition of the horse or dog entered in a race failing to comply with the rules of the commission. Any person aggrieved by a decision by the commission, shall have the right to appeal the decision to the full commission. Any appeal to the commission shall be in accordance with RSA 284:13.

59:5 New Paragraph; Rulemaking. Amend RSA 284:12 by inserting after paragraph VI the following new paragraph:

VII. Sanctions and penalties imposed on the trainer of record provided in RSA 284:38-a.