Advocacy groups including animal rights organizations and education interests are backing an end to subsidies for the horse racing industry in New York, and calling for the money to be redirected to schools in the state.

Two Democratic lawmakers have once again introduced legislation meant to strip the industry of more than $230 million in yearly support from the state.

“It’s time to stop throwing good money after bad," said Kathy Guillermo, a senior vice president of the animal advocacy group PETA, longstanding critics of horse racing.  "Wealthy owners, breeders, and celebrity trainers should fund their own investments and gaming ventures – not at the expense of public schools."

Supporers of the measure, backed by state Sen. Robert Jackson and Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, point to the billions of dollars in state support received by horse racing in the last several decades, allegations of doping and wage theft of workers.

“Millions of private businesses in New York State get by without the help of subsidies, but not the horse racing industry," Rosenthal said. "New York State gives more than $230 million each year to prop up a dying industry, which abuses horses and workers, when the money could instead be used to help fund our education system and strengthen our communities. My legislation would finally bring an end to this practice, directing the revenue instead to the sectors facing the greatest need. The time has come to end corporate welfare for horse racing."

The New York Racing Association operates tracks at Aqueduct, Belmont and Saratoga Springs. The tracks, especially in Saratoga, attract tourists from around the country.

Horse racing opponents have questioned whether the industry has as wide an economy impact as supporters claim, noting no independent review by the state has been conducted.

We Are NY Horse Racing, composed of business organizations and labor unions supportive of the industry, pushed back on the anti-subsidy measure.

"These are professional activists, pushing an agenda that is completely out of touch with what New Yorkers want from Albany, which is investing in communities and creating jobs," said Jack Sterne, a spokesman for the group. "New Yorkers view horse racing favorably by a 3-to-1 margin because they know the sport is an engine for the economy, sustaining 19,000 jobs, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue, and creating $3 billion in annual economic activity. Presenting a false choice between resources for public schools and the thousands of working class families supported by horse racing is as intellectually dishonest as it is untrue.”