Finley files lawsuit over election

Terry Finley, the founder of West Point Thoroughbreds, has filed a civil lawsuit in New York contesting the result of the election he lost late last year for president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association.

The lawsuit, filed in Queens County Supreme Court on May 1, is the second appeal by Finley of the election. The first was a protest that was rejected by NYTHA’s board of directors in March after Finley contended that the association violated its own bylaws in identifying voting members and distributing ballots.

Although a copy of the lawsuit could not be obtained by early Tuesday afternoon, Finley confirmed in a phone conversation that the suit is seeking to disqualify the election result. Richard Violette, a two-term incumbent, won the election by 14 votes, 625-611.

Following the rejection of the protest by NYTHA’s board, Finley’s attorney, Christopher Green, said that Finley was considering a civil appeal.

“I am confident that if Mr. Finley asks it to, the [Queens County] Supreme Court will require NYTHA to hold a new election using appropriate procedures and a reasonably complete membership roster,” said Green, an attorney with Boies, Schiller, and Flexne.

An initial hearing is scheduled for June 5, according to Queens County court records, the day before the Belmont Stakes.