How to Investigate Animal Cruetly in NY State - A Manual of Procedures

Return to Table of Contents

§ 180.50 Tampering with a sports contest in the second degree

A person is guilty of tampering with a sports contest when, with intent to influence the outcome of a sports contest, he tampers with any sports participant, sports official or with any animal or equipment or other thing involved in the conduct or operation of a sports contest in a manner contrary to the rules and usages purporting to govern such a contest.

Tampering with a sports contest in the second degree is a Class A misdemeanor.

NYSHA's notes: Additional laws to consider
See Agriculture and Markets Law, Article 26 Section 360, which deals with poisoning or attempting to poison animals and Section 361, which deals with tampering with an animal involved in a race or competitive event.

§ 180.51 Tampering with a sports contest in the first degree

A person is guilty of tampering with a sports contest in the first degree when, with intent to influence the outcome of a pari-mutuel horse race:

1. He affects any equine animal involved in the conduct or operation of a pari-mutuel horse race by administering to the animal in any manner whatsoever any controlled substance listed in section thirty three hundred six of the public health law; or
2. He knowingly enters or furnishes to another person for entry or brings into this state for entry into a pari-mutuel horse race, or rides or drives in any pari-mutuel horse race any running, trotting or pacing horse, mare, gelding, colt or filly under an assumed name, or deceptively out of its proper class, or that has been painted or disguised or represented to be any other or different horse, mare, gelding, colt or filly from that which it actually is; or
3. He knowingly and falsely registers with the jockey club, United States trotting association, American quarter horse association or national steeplechase and hunt association a horse, mare, gelding, colt or filly previously registered under a different name; or
4. He agrees with one or more persons to enter such misrepresented or drugged animal in a pari-mutuel horse race. A person shall not be convicted of a violation of this subdivision unless an overt action is alleged and proved to have been committed by one of said persons in furtherance of said agreement.

   Tampering with a sports contest in the first degree is a class E felony.

NYSHA's notes: Additional laws to consider:
See Agriculture and Markets Law, Article 26 Section 360, which deals with poisoning or attempting to poison animals and Section 361, which deals with tampering with an animal involved in a race or competitive event.