New York State Governor's Commission on the Future of Horse Racing in New York State Research and Report Files

Arranged by type of record (testimony, reports, etc.)

The Commission on the Future of Horse Racing in New York State (the "Delafield Commission") was appointed by the governor to study the potential impact of legislative regulatory or financial measures on the horse racing industry. The commission especially examined the impact of off-track betting on the operation of the industry and the economic implications of legalized gaming. Charles B. Delafield was chairman of the commission; Russell V. Gladieux was its executive director.

The series consists of original records of the "Delafield Commission" appointed by the governor to study the impact of off-track betting, legalized gambling, and other legislative regulatory or financial measures on the horse racing industry. Records include internal commission correspondence and memoranda; draft reports; a large amount of public hearing testimony, including statements by prominent businesspersons and industry leaders; minutes of commission meetings; and many letters of opinion, news clippings, and press releases from citizens and organizations concerned with the future of racing in the state.

Research materials include reports and market studies on race tracks; staff papers and reviews from commission task forces, especially on off-track betting operations; pamphlets and brochures about out-of-state race tracks; statistics on legalized gambling; information on horse owners' associations; annual reports and financial statements of the New York Racing Association (NYRA); data on horse breeding; and a few black and white photographs of race tracks and events.

There are no restrictions regarding access to or use of this material.