New Jersey Legislators Bring Their Support to the Winner's Circle
Hambletonian day Saturday, August 7 was a great day for racing and the Meadowlands. It was also an important day for the New Jersey racing and breeding as it was celebrated with a number of the people that have consistently supported our program.
With an exceptional racing program that paid out purses of $3,664,800 for 16 races and with the handle of $6,487,839 up 13% from the 2020 numbers, we were treated to a dominant gate to wire 1:51 win in the classic $1 Million Hambletonian by race favorite CAPTAIN COREY and trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt, for owners Svanstedt Stable, SRF Stable, Knuttson Trotting and Midnight Sun Partners.
With New Jersey and the Meadowlands on center stage for all the world to see, NJ State Senator Paul Sarlo, Assemblyman John Burzichelli and Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher were front and center in the winner’s circle presentation that was featured Nationally on the CBS Sports Network.
Senator Sarlo was co-sponsor of the five-year $100 Million appropriation legislation that revived, if not saved, the NJ Racing and Breeding programs.
The Appropriation legislation not only gave NJ horsemen five years of stability, but part of the legislation stipulated that the NJ horsemen share in the sports betting revenue, which has proven to be an even greater boost to the purse account than anticipated.
Assemblyman Burzichelli, Deputy Speaker and Appropriations Chairman, co-sponsored the Sports Betting and Appropriation legislation and has been a friend of the SBOANJ and the New Jersey horsemen for over twenty years.
Since his appointment, Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher has monitored the New Jersey Sire Stakes Program, and with the state appropriation has helped the staking requirements become more competitive in today’s staking schedule.
With the New Jersey racing and breeding program again thriving, we will be able to next turn our attention to the prestigious $6.3 million Breeders Crown Series. The plan is that it will return to the Meadowlands for the first time since 2016. This championship event plans to be showcased in the fall on the weekends of October 22nd & 23rd and October 29th and 30th.
Clearly, we could not be where we are today without the consistent support of our state legislators and the relationships that we have forged. With their assistance, we believe that the future will bring even more success and prosperity to the Garden State.
Support the Horse Industry, Support Phil Murphy!
-- Ken Weingartner
MANALAPAN, NJ -- May 11, 2017 -- Phil Murphy, the front-runner in the race among Democrats to represent the party in November’s general election for governor, met with horsemen and horsewomen on May 4 at Deo Volente Farms and said he is committed to helping struggling New Jersey industries --- including horseracing --- regain their edge both locally and nationally.
Murphy met with a large group at a fundraiser sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey and TrotPAC, the organization’s political action committee, and hosted by Deo Volente Farms, and said it was time for the equine industry to get back on its feet to the benefit of all residents of the Garden State.
Letter to Horsemen
March 31, 2016
LETTER TO HORSEMEN FROM TROTPAC
- From Anthony Perretti, Chairman of TrotPAC
MANALAPAN, NJ – March 23, 2016 -- On behalf of the trustees at TrotPAC, I am seeking your financial support to aid in TrotPAC’s efforts to revitalize standardbred racing in New Jersey.
TrotPAC works in conjunction with the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey and is the official political action committee for New Jersey’s harness racing industry. In the wake of recent changes at the SBOANJ, there has been some confusion over just where donations to the political action committee should be sent.
Make no mistake, TrotPAC is the political action arm of the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey and is duly sanctioned to raise and distribute revenues for the specific purpose of the betterment of the New Jersey standardbred breeding and racing industry. This is done with the aid of our industry’s official lobbyists at Advocacy & Management Group, Inc., a firm active at the State Capitol in Trenton.
New Jersey Horse Racing = New Jersey Farms
The future of NJ horse racing and breeding is threatened from casinos located at Pennsylvania and New York racetracks. Horses, their trainers and owners, all are taking their business out of New Jersey. Even the Atlantic City casinos are feeling the heat as many New Jersey residents spend their gaming and entertainment dollars out of state. Thousands of agricultural jobs and tens of thousands of productive farm acres could be lost if the state of New Jersey continues to allow gaming only at Atlantic City
New Jersey horsemen and farmers are only asking for a level playing field. NJ needs new revenue streams and a Casino at the Meadowlands will bring back lost revenue.
It would mean:
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