On certain autumn afternoons in New York, lawmakers climb into racing carts and are pulled at speed by Standardbred horses around Yonkers Raceway. The event, known as the Legislative Pace, is framed as a harmless tradition. In practice, it places elected officials inside an industry that depends on public subsidies and has long raised alarms about animal welfare, as Politico reports.

The rides are not symbolic. The horses race on a professional track, guided by drivers who carry whips. The spectacle is amplified on jumbotrons, even when the stands are nearly empty. For the horses, the pace and pressure mirror real harness races that critics say carry unnecessary risk.

New York lawmakers participate in live harness races at Yonkers Raceway.

What Happens on the Track

Harness racing places horses in sulkies, lightweight carts pulled at speed. While supporters describe the Legislative Pace as non-wagering and controlled, the animals still run full laps on a half-mile oval. The industry has acknowledged that the event is designed to give lawmakers a firsthand experience of racing, according to the Business Council of Westchester.

Animal advocates argue that this framing ignores the horses’ reality. Even brief races can involve stress, force, and physical strain. as detailed by Horseracing Wrongs notes that whip use, tight turns, and high speeds are normalized across the sport, not suspended for lawmakers’ participation.

Horses run at speed on a professional track during the ride.

Public Money and Private Risk

The Legislative Pace is closely tied to the flow of state funds into harness racing. New York directs hundreds of millions of dollars from gambling revenues to support the industry, a structure that some lawmakers have said would not survive without public aid, Politico reports.

Supporters counter that racing supports agriculture and jobs. Press materials distributed over the years emphasize economic benefits and friendly competition, according to the Paulick Report. Critics respond that economic arguments do not justify practices that put animals at risk, especially when participation by lawmakers can soften scrutiny.

Growing Dissent Outside the Gates

The event has not gone unnoticed. Protesters have repeatedly gathered outside Yonkers Raceway, calling for public money to be redirected away from horse racing and toward schools and community needs, as reported by News 12 Long Island. Animal advocates have also contacted legislators directly, urging them to reconsider their involvement.

In recent years, organizers have limited publicity around the ride. Politico notes that press outreach was reduced after activists raised concerns about horse treatment. Critics view this quiet shift as an acknowledgment that public sentiment has changed.

The tradition is tied to a publicly subsidized racing industry.

Why It Matters Beyond One Event

The Legislative Pace is more than a novelty. It represents a moment where policy, money, and animal welfare collide. When lawmakers participate in racing, they lend legitimacy to an industry facing persistent questions about cruelty and necessity.

For the horses, there is no symbolic value. They run, they strain, and they bear the consequences. Whether watched by crowds or hidden from public view, the practice raises a simple question that advocates continue to press: why should animals be put at risk for tradition, spectacle, or political bonding when the harm is avoidable?

Click below to make a difference.