New York State Commission to Study, Examine and Investigate State Agencies in Relation to Pari-mutuel Harness Racing

This Commission was created by Executive Order on October 10, 1953 to investigate the operations and management of New York harness racing associations, corporations, and tracks and of the New York State Harness Racing Commission.

The investigation was prompted by the August 28, 1953 murder of Thomas F. Lewis, President of Local 32-E, Building Service Employees International Union, A.F. of L. This union claimed jurisdiction over several hundred employees at Yonkers Raceway. Questionable hiring and other practices were revealed at Yonkers Raceway following Lewis' murder. This, combined with a Nassau County Grand Jury investigation into alleged racketeering and coercive practices of officials of unions claiming jurisdiction over Roosevelt Raceway employees, led Governor Thomas E. Dewey to promulgate the Executive Order appointing this Commission under Section 6 of the Executive Law (Moreland Act).

...