FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

     AUGUST 15, 1977                              FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                        ANNE BURNS


          Governor Brendan Byrne signed S-1784, sponsored by Senatory
     Raymond Garramone, D-Bergen, which designates the horse as the New
     Jersey State Animal on Sunday, August 14, at the Sussex County Fair.

          The Governor praised Senator Garramone and Assemblyman Walter
     Kozloski, D-Monmouth, who sponsored a similar bill in the Assembly,
     for their efforts.

          "I believe the horse is truly deserving of this title,"
     Governor Byrne said.
          "The Founding Fathers of our state thought so highly of the
     horse that they included it in our State seal.  Today there are
     4,654 horse farms in New Jersey, of which 888 raise racing horses.
     The Horse industry makes a contribution to the preservation of Green
     Acres at a time when great demands are being made for the
     preservation of our land," Byrne said.

          "I want to extend special thanks today to Michael McCarthy and
     his classmates at Our Lady of Victories School in Harrington Park
     and to James Sweetman of Freehold.  It is because of their efforts
     that the horse is now the State Animal of New Jersey," Byrne said.