Equine & Racing Law

For more than 30 years, Meyer Suozzi has been deeply rooted in the horse community, representing both individuals (including owners, jockeys, trainers, drivers and breeders) and professional groups such as the Standardbred Owners Association of New York, before the New York State Racing and Wagering Board, the New York State Gaming Commission, and federal and state courts.

Andrew J. Turro, Chair of the Equine & Racing Law practice and an experienced litigator, combines first-hand knowledge of the industry with relevant legal experience to properly represent equine professionals. As such, in 2011, Mr. Turro successfully prevailed in a challenge before the New York Supreme Court attacking the legality and constitutionality of the New York State Racing and Wagering Board’s out-of-competition drug testing regulations for standardbred race horses. More recently, Mr. Turro successfully represented standardbred horse trainer Lou Pena in the State Racing Board Administrative Hearings and in several subsequent Supreme Court litigations that charged Mr. Pena with over 1700 violations of the Board’s drug regulations. In October 2013, the New York State Supreme Court dismissed all charges against Mr. Pena based on constitutional due process grounds. Mr. Turro also serves as a legal consultant for racing industry groups to review and analyze proposed legislation and regulations, which in the past have included state proposed therapeutic drug rules and out-of-competition drug testing rules. Mr. Turro also represents racing stables and other members of the New York Thoroughbred Horseman’s Association in connection with federal and state labor law cases and other matters.

Mr. Turro is a frequent speaker on equine and racing law matters. He has lectured on developments in Racing Law since 2013 at the Albany Law School Saratoga Institute Conferences as well as the Global Symposium on Racing and Gaming in Tucson, AZ, sponsored by the University of Arizona. In light of his impressive precedent-setting victories, in 2014 and 2015, he also participated in the University of Arizona’s Race Track Industry Program’s Guest Speaker Series where he lectured on legal precedents and recent developments in Racing Law.

Additionally, for the past several years, Mr. Turro has been quoted extensively in equine-related publications including The Daily Racing Form, Harness Link and Harness Racing Update. Meyer Suozzi relies on a cross-departmental legal approach, and our Equine & Racing Law practice is supported by members of our Litigation, Employment, Corporate, Environment, Lobbying, Personal Injury and Bankruptcy Departments, each having substantive knowledge representing clients in the unique legal issues and business practices of the equestrian and horse racing world.

We are also routinely called upon to litigate and resolve equine related claims for personal injury including horse bites and falls, property damage, alleged rule violations related to positive drug test results, employment disputes, arbitrations, and for other legal proceedings. On the transactional side, we assist clients with ownership, purchase and sell agreements, syndication, licensing and permitting, governmental lobbying, boarding, lesson, race, training and breeding contracts, mergers and acquisitions for equestrian facilities, and horse partnership and joint venture agreements.

Additionally, on the private client side, Meyer Suozzi handles estate and tax planning for horse breeders and owners.