People v. Gerard

OPINION OF THE COURT

Fuchsberg, J.

The essential issue on this appeal is whether, in the context of a prosecution which relied on both direct and circumstantial evidence, the People presented sufficient proof to support a jury verdict declaring defendant Dr. Mark J. Gerard, a veterinarian specializing in the care of racehorses, guilty of two counts of "fraudulent entries and practices in contests of speed” arising out of a celebrated incident of "horse-switching” at Belmont Park Racetrack in 1977.1 The statute under which he was indicted and convicted is subdivision 1 of section 12-a of chapter…