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New Jersey’s equine industry contributes over $600 million to the state’s economy, and provides recreational, environmental and ecological benefits to all of the state’s citizens through the preservation of taxpaying open space. The industry is composed of two sectors: pleasure horses and race horses.

The Horse Park of New Jersey is the cornerstone of the pleasure horse sector. Since its opening in 1983, the park has hosted more than 550 events, ranging from multi-breed horse shows to national events for standardbred pleasure horses. The Park has also hosted livestock shows including: the Monmouth County Stars and Stripes Invitational Show and the State 4-H Lamb, Small Animal, Dairy Goat, and Beef Shows. With the purchase of the livestock pens by the New Jersey Junior Breeder Program, the venue can accommodate many more events showcasing Garden State livestock. For the year 2004, forty-one weekends are already scheduled while requests for reservations continue.

Recognizing the success of the facility and the anticipation of expansion of the use to other segments of agriculture, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture supports the continued development of the facility and will pursue all avenues of funding. Continued development would protect and enhance the already considerable public and private investment in the Park. Progress would also boost the Park’s efforts to complete a modern facility in which the full potential of New Jersey’ non-racing equine industry could be realized.

While New Jersey’s pleasure horse industry is thriving, recent studies have identified that the racing industry in NJ is at a critical crossroads. Between 2001 and 2002 alone, annual purses have decreased on average 25 percent for both harness and thoroughbred racing. The future of the racing industry is uncertain, and with that so are uncertain the fates of over 80,000 acres of farmland and open space, and 40,000 local jobs. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture has developed a report with assistance from industry professionals to recommend strategies for stabilizing and improving the race horse sector of New Jersey’s equine industry.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the delegates to the 89th State Agricultural Convention, assembled in Long Branch, New Jersey on February 4, 2004, support the continued development of the Horse Park of New Jersey.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we support the strategies and recommendations described in the Department of Agriculture’s Report, Focus on New Jersey’s Horse Racing Industry.