Yonkers, NY — Wednesday’s (April 14) announcement from Governor Cuomo regarding the reopening of horse racing tracks to onsite fans with the same suggested protocols as those being used for fans for ticketed events at stadiums has caused serious concern among harness racing stakeholders across New York State.

It appears that these suggested protocols are within the context of large-scale, ticketed Thoroughbred events such as the Belmont Stakes, while the reality is that for day-to-day harness races at NYS tracks, the operations are completely different and therefore the protocols would seem to be irrelevant to these racing facilities.

We would urge NYS health and racing officials to offer immediate guidance that live viewing of racing at racino facilities (such as Yonkers Raceway, Saratoga Harness, etc.) logically utilize the very same protocols as those in place for the casinos and paddocks at those sites.

Current Yonkers Racino/Raceway protocols

Operations have been going on without incident at both the VLT facility and the track since racing resumed pre-vaccination, and without an incident of any kind occurring under present protocols.

At the casino all patrons gain admission when, and only when, their temperature is taken, and if they are under 100.4 they are admitted. After entry, these indoor patrons are required to wear masks at all times thereafter. If they leave the premises to smoke or get a breath of fresh air they may remove their masks so long as they socially distance.

The paddock is considered indoors, so admission is subject to the same temperature check, taken by the same track security. Once inside, like at the casino, they are required to wear their masks. If they venture out to smoke, get fresh air or pick up a horse post-race, then they must observe all the social distancing protocols as apply to the casino patrons.

Proof of negative test/vaccine for racing fans not relevant

There has not been a problem or outbreak under the above procedures at the casino or at the paddock. Therefore, making racing patrons submit a negative test or proof of vaccination, while casino patrons at the same facility would not be subjected to the same compliance requirements, seems both arbitrary and discriminatory to an entire class of fans of our game who are at the same locale.

Furthermore, it is important to note that racing patrons would be provided access to what we call the “apron,” which is a fully outdoor space that is a quarter-mile long and at least 40 feet wide, and which is, literally, right outside the currently locked doors of the casino.

New York State’s harness horsemen would propose that state health and racing officials clarify the proposed protocols for racing fans at our racetrack facilities, including the following:

Allow racing patrons to access the outdoor “apron” adjacent to the track, based on the same temperature, mask-wearing and social distancing protocols/requirements for those entering the casino or paddock. Management would then serve these patrons through the existing outdoor pari-mutuel windows.

Allow similar access to indoor simulcasting facilities — such as the fourth floor at Empire City Casino — under the same protocols. It simply makes no sense to allow patrons in the casino to access VLTs on the first floor but not a simulcasting room in literally the same building (and it should be noted that similar OTB simulcasting facilities are already allowed to operate under such protocols).

Once again, unless the state is also considering concurrently changing protocols for patrons at casinos and OTBs to require negative COVID tests or vaccines, there is simply no rationale or logical reason to apply any separate “horse racing protocols” at New York State harness racing facilities. We thank New York State policy makers in advance for your attention to this critically important issue.