A former employee has filed a lawsuit against the New York Racing Association (NYRA), claiming unlawful termination and defamation.
According to the lawsuit filed by plaintiff Hector Soler, who served as the first Hispanic and Puerto Rican Head Starter at the NYRA, his tenure lasted more than two decades, during which he rose through the ranks to become Head Starter—a position that required both managerial skills and physically demanding labor. Despite his accomplishments, Soler claims he faced systemic discrimination based on race, national origin, and disability.
"Despite attaining a reputation as one of the preeminent starters in New York horse racing," Soler asserts in his complaint, "I faced unlawful discrimination and retaliation in the workplace."
Soler details multiple grievances against NYRA, including being misclassified as an exempt employee to deny him overtime pay despite routinely working more than 40 hours per week. He also accuses NYRA of retaliating against him after he took protected leave due to a workplace injury sustained on August 4, 2024. Upon returning from leave in January 2025, Soler found himself sidelined by management decisions that undermined his authority, actions he attributes to racial bias.
In addition to wage-related claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and New York Labor Law (NYLL), Soler's complaint includes accusations of defamation. Following his termination on March 2, 2025, Soler received a trespass notice banning him from NYRA properties. He contends that NYRA allowed confidential information about this ban to leak publicly, damaging his reputation within the horse racing industry.
Soler seeks comprehensive relief from the court: compensatory damages for unpaid wages and emotional distress; liquidated damages for willful FLSA violations; punitive damages for discriminatory practices; back pay; front pay; emotional damages; prejudgment interest; post-judgment interest; attorneys' fees; costs; and any other relief deemed just by the court.
The plaintiff is represented by attorneys Nadia M. Pervez and Aneeba Rehman of Pervez & Rehman P.C. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York under Case No.: 25-CV-2084.