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During the past 25 years, the region’s horse racing industry has faced many challenges including the advent of casino gambling, an increasingly popular state lottery, the 2001 closure of Garden State Park, and declining audiences at live races due to simulcasting. To compensate, states neighboring New Jersey are combining different wagering technologies with horse racing. Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New York already have either slot machines or video lottery terminals installed at the tracks or they have recently passed legislation permitting them. These efforts are attracting larger racetrack audiences and enhancing revenues.
Based on the most recent data, New Jersey’s equine industry, composed predominately of pleasure breeds, accounts for an estimated 81,000 acres of farmland across the state. The state’s breeding stock alone has an overall value of $168 million. Equine related assets including feed, bedding, fencing, equipment, transportation, insurance, blacksmith and veterinary services contribute $672 million to the state’s economy annually.
As part of its efforts to support the equine industry, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture administers numerous disease control programs to help keep livestock healthy. The Department is a leader in the research on the West Nile Virus and its work has been used throughout the world to develop programs that address the disease.
In 2003, a new breeder program was advertised for standardbreds, work continued toward a thoroughbreds breeding program, and the New Jersey Sire Stakes program received the proposed legislation to create the “Garden State Standardbred Fund” The Equine Science center continued its research, and the NJ Equine Advisory Board continued its efforts to bolster promotion and education efforts to stimulate interest, attract new owners, and create career opportunities in the equine industry.
For 2004 the Department will be working to ensure horse health, encourage new and improved training facilities and promote New Jersey’s equine industry.
8.1 Ensure Horse Health
67) STRATEGY - Work with horse owners to assure awareness of disease threats and animal safety. Continue working to protect the health of horses from the immediate threat of devastating and economically damaging diseases.
68) STRATEGY – Work with Rutgers University’s Cook College to continue development of a state-of-the-art research facility for its Equine Science Center. The Center is developing cost-effective techniques for nutrient and waste management to ensure the compatible co-existence of horse farms in urban and suburban environments.
8.2 Strengthen Breeder Reward Programs
69) STRATEGY – Amend legislation to allow “Thoroughbred Jersey Breeder Awards” to be paid to owners and breeders racing in neighboring states. Horses would be able to race in states contiguous to New Jersey 30 days after live racing ends here, and up to 30 days before live racing resumes. Continue to work toward a thoroughbred breeding program, mirroring the Maryland Million, which would provide a full day of “Jersey Bred” racing with purses totaling $1 million.
70) STRATEGY – Encourage participation in existing new breeder programs and work to create new breeder programs that will strengthen the industry.
8.3 Encourage Development of New Training Facility
71) STRATEGY – Facilitate and encourage development of a training facility for thoroughbreds. The closing of Garden State Park resulted in the loss of the only thoroughbred training facility in the state, forcing trainers to leave New Jersey at the end of racing season because they have no place to train or lodge for the winter.
8.4 Promote the Industry
72) STRATEGY - Work with the Horse Park to explore the possibility of hosting future Olympic equestrian events and other prestige events.
73) STRATEGY – Seek increased funding of the Equine Advisory Board through the legislative process.
74) STRATEGY Consider permitting the sale of pleasure horse breeds at the Horse Park of New Jersey.
75) STRATEGY - Use the racetracks to highlight pleasure breeds with demonstrations and parades.
76) STRATEGY – Bolster promotion and education efforts to stimulate interest, attract new owners and create career opportunities. Seek additional industry and governmental support to augment purse values, increase racetrack attendance and diversify the public support base for horse racing.
77) STRATEGY - Work to develop an Economic Growth Plan focusing on the racing sector.
8.5 Improve Facilities
78) STRATEGY - Seek to complete an addition to the covered work area at the Horse Park of New Jersey allowing for public seating at sales and agricultural education programs at the Horse Park of NJ. Support efforts of the Horse Park to expand its acreage.
