STUART S. JANNEY III: Our next speaker is Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer. He couldn’t be with us today, but he’s able to provide a pre-recorded video.

SENATOR CHARLES E. SCHUMER: Hey, everyone, it’s Senator Chuck Schumer, and I want to thank you all for inviting me to share a quick message at your annual Round Table. Sorry I couldn’t be there in person, but I certainly want to thank Stuart Janney, the chair of The Jockey Club, Jim Gagliano, the president of The Jockey Club, and all the members of this great club.

We all know how important the horse racing industry is to New York, and we’re in an important moment. We are getting past the pandemic. We need to work together to make sure horse racing in America and New York grows, thrives, and works fairly for all.

It’s so important in our state where racing has had a long and storied history. I was proud to fight for the passage of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act at the end of 2020. This reform makes sure that the future of industry is bright for years to come, and I’m glad we got it done on a bipartisan basis.

It will not only protect the equine athlete, but assure that New Yorkers will be able to enjoy Saratoga and other New York racing venues for generations to come.

It was touch and go there for a while, but I pushed my colleagues hard. Told them how important this bill was for racing in New York and around the country.

Of course, I want to thank all the New Yorkers who helped us push this bill over the finish line, including the NYRA and the New York horsemen.

Of course, there is a lot more work we have to do to make sure the industry is healthy and strong in the long run, but you know I’ll always be there by your side.

Finally, let me finish by wishing everyone at the new Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority and its leader, Lisa Lazarus, Godspeed. Let me know how we can improve this bill down the road.

Thanks for your hard work. My very best, see you soon.