I don't think that the horseman want to break away from NYRA at all, at least not the ones who are actually horsemen.
The funniest part of the whole Empire thing is that the majority of those listed as "trainers" don't train anymore, and weren't any good at it when they did. Which is why they require jobs as shills for that group. If they ever had any talent and could actually train they would currently be doing so.
Then their are a lot of the owners with Empire, its hysterical, really it is, when you hear some guy referred to as an owner who no longer has anything in training, or has one two cheap horses that are worth less than a used car.
The way these circus clowns talk, you'd think they actually had money invested in the game.
While some credible horseman do indeed belong with Empire, they flat out lie and blatantly misrepresent themselves as speaking for all Ny horseman, which they very clearly do not.
This is especially true with the NY Thoroughbred Breeders who gave Dennis Brida the boot out the door when he appeared as a member of Empire, something the very esteemed Barry Ostrager has made it clear that he will not endorse in his tenure as president of that group.
Empire's trademark at this point appears to be their fascinating ability to lie and distort the truth while pretending to speak for thousands who have no interest in them succeeding.