After 35 years, more than 2,300 wins and a four-year run as the leading trainer on the New York Racing Association circuit, Gary Contessa is seeking a new challenge. Contessa, 62, announced on Thursday that he plans to quit training horses by the end of the month but he hopes to stay in the racing game. “I’ve had enough of training,” Contessa said. “If you look at the bottom line, I’m losing money month after month after month. I’m tired of that, I’ve just had enough. It’s very tough.” Contessa is the second New York-based trainer to announce he’s leaving that part of the game in two days. On Wednesday, Kiaran McLaughlin said he is quitting training to become the agent for jockey Luis Saez. Both trainers cited issues related to the Department of Labor and wages paid to employees as reasons to move on from training. McLaughlin was fined $304,646 by the New York Department of Labor and is awaiting a figure from the Federal Department of Labor. Contessa said he also is awaiting a final figure from the Federal Department of Labor but estimated it would be a similar figure to what McLaughlin was fined. “If I run my business the way the Department of Labor says to, I’d have to charge [owners] about $150 a day and no owner is going to pay you $150 a day,” Contessa said. “At this point in time your only options are to cheat and defy the Department of Labor, or do what the labor department wants and lose your shirt. There’s no in between.” Contessa said before the Department of Labor got involved, trainers paid their help a weekly salary. Since the Department of Labor got involved, trainers must pay employees by the hour and that means significant overtime costs. “I’ve been doing this for too many years to cut corners,” Contessa said. “I’m not going to cheat on my paperwork, I’m not going to cheat on my horses. The only way I can stay in the game is to cut some corners or cheat and I’m not going to do that.” Contessa also cited a desire to spend more time with his wife, who has been very sick. Eight years ago, Jennifer Contessa was told she had Lupus when she actually had Lyme Disease. “I’m going to take a little time off, be with my wife and help her get healthy,” Contessa said. Contessa said he has 40 to 45 horses between Belmont Park and Tampa Bay Downs. Contessa said his assistant, Amira Chichakly, is planning to take out her trainer’s license and Contessa is hoping some of his owners will give her a chance. Contessa has a fervent desire to stay in the game and would like to break into the track management side of the business. “I know whatever I do I will be good at, because I don’t go to sleep at night until I complete the task at hand,” he said. “All I do 24 hours a day is think how to make racing better; that’s what I’m all about.” A former assistant to Frank “Pancho” Martin, Contessa began training on his own in 1985. He has won 2,363 races and his horses won $84 million in purse money. He trained Grade 1 stakes winners Do It With Style and Sippican Habor and a bevy of other stakes winners including Eightyfiveinafifty, Grey Comet, Magnolia Jackson, Runaway Lute, Stunt Man, Turco Bravo, and Wishful Tomcat. From 2006-09, Contessa was the leading trainer on the NYRA circuit in wins, including 2007 when he set what was then a NYRA record for wins with 159. David Jacobson eclipsed that mark in 2013 with 164.