Research

Scope and Content Note

This series consists of background information and supporting documentation compiled by the Commission during its investigation of individuals with financial interests or other involvement in harness racing associations.

The bulk of the series consists of investigation files on individuals. These files vary greatly in size and content but may contain such records as: investigation reports from the New York State Police to the Commission providing personal information including: name and alias, residential and business addresses and phone numbers, occupation and employment history, date and place of birth, physical description, parent names, addresses, and occupations, former addresses, education (schools, dates, degrees), marital status, military service, criminal record, credit rating, and list of newspaper articles about the individual; completed questionnaires providing detailed information on the nature and extent of the individual's financial interests in harness racing associations; grand jury minutes involving the individual; schedules and lists of dividends paid by harness racing associations to the individual; stock acquisition and transfer lists and charts; chronology of the individual's financial transactions; state and federal income tax returns; lists and copies of cancelled checks, financial records, correspondence, legal documents, and other materials turned over to the Commission; interoffice memoranda reporting on the individual's financial interests and transactions; summary of individual's testimony; and outline of examination (information to be requested at hearing).

A few files at the beginning of the series are exhibits presented at the March 1954 public hearings. These are accompanied by a register listing the name of the witness and date of testimony during which each exhibit was presented. The exhibits include: charts, tables, graphs, and schedules indicating harness racing association investors, how much invested, number of shares of stock, amount invested in bonds, and related information; lease of track by owner-lessor to licensee, and related agreements; transcripts of Executive Session testimony from which portions were read at public hearings; correspondence between persons and associations with financial interests in harness racing; criminal/arrest records with mug shots; cancelled checks; and news articles.

In addition, there are a few exhibits from Executive Session hearings held in October 1953.