Issue 1Issue 1Isssue I

PacesetterWinter 2018 Volume 43

NJDA HONORS THE EQUINE INDUSTRYMembers of the standardbred racing industry were recognized at The New Jersey Department

of Agriculture’s 61st Annual New Jersey Breeders Awards.

Ariana G was awarded the New Jersey Standardbred of the Year and the New Jersey Sires Stakes Horse of the Year. The 3-year-old trotting filly was victorious in major stakes, such as the Del Miller Memorial, the Hambletonian Oaks, the Simcoe, the Elegant Image and the Breeders Crown, earning more than $1.1 million during the season.

Mark Mullen of Fair Winds Farm received the Breeder of the Year award. Fair Winds Farm in Cream Ridge has been providing horse owners with broodmare and yearling care for more than 30 years. The farm’s reproductive services are trusted by many successful breeders in the business. This year, Fair Winds Farm enjoyed its best-ever yearling sale at

the Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg, PA.

The 2017 Governor’s Award for Horseperson of the Year was awarded to Maggi Romano, who has been a committed volunteer on the county, state and national level for 30 years.

Romano is a founding member of the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Association and won the Spirit of the Horse Award from the Rutgers Equine S cience Center in 2015. She is also a board member of the New Jersey Horse Council, having served as president and as a delegate to the New Jersey Equine Advisory Board, where she has served as vice chair and two years as chair.

The committee also honored Sam McKee and Dr. David Meirs for their help, support and participation over the years.

SBOANJ directors Anthony Romano, Michael Klau, Sam Landy, Mark Mullen, Richard Meirs, Bob Boni and Executive Administrator Al Ochsner attended the event.

Per Engblom, Helen Engblom and Perry Soderberg accepted the award from NJDA Division of Marketing and

Development Director Tom Beaver, SBOANJ director Rich Meirs and NJSS board member Nancy Grbelja.

Mark Mullen receives award from Rich Meirs

Horseperson of the Year Maggi Romano (center) accepts her honor at the 61st Annual New Jersey Breeders Luncheon

WHAT’S INSIDENJ DAN PATCH WINNERS......................2FREEHOLD 2017 DRIVER/TRAINER.....3

VENDOR DISCOUNTS............................4NEW DIRECTORS....................................6PRESIDENT’S LETTER.............................7

F O R T H E L A T E S T S B O A N J N E W S “ L I K E ” U S O N F A C E B O O K !

With the announcement of the Dan Patch Awards for 2017 many New Jersey connections stood out as winners.

The New Jersey sired totters Ariana G, Marion Marauder and What The Hill all shined in their respective categories. Ariana G won for the second year in a row, this year for 3-year-old Female Trotter. Marion Marauder took home the Age Trotter category. What The Hill was awarded for the 3-year-old Male Trotter.

SBOANJ Director Yannick Gingras was awarded the coveted Driver Of The Year. In 2017, Gingras drove the top three ranked horses in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, swept the female trotter divisional honors and contributed almost a quarter of his $12.9 million in earnings. Gingras has earned the respect of the leading horsemen in this era

as the principal catch-driver for most of the top stakes horses for trainers Ron Burke and Jimmy Takter.

Gingras drove Hannelore Hanover for Burke and 3-year-old Ariana G, a two time award winner, and the undefeated 2-year-old Manchego for Takter. These three mounts alone won 15 $100,000-plus stakes, as well as their respective Breeders Crown, putting Gingras at the top in 2017.

Yannick also upset the ”hometown favorites” Downbythe-seaside and Fear The Dragon, winning the Little Brown Jug final with Filibuster Hanover.

In total Gingras won 33 stakes races worth $100,000 or more in 2017.

Charlie Williams, the stallion manager at Southwind Farms in New Jersey, was named the recipient of the 2017 Caretaker of the Year Award by the U.S. Harness Writers Association.

Williams, 68, has worked at Southwind Farms for nearly three decades. Williams was born in Georgia and began working with horses as a young man in Florida. He spent the early part of his career with thoroughbreds, as an exercise rider and care-taker, before a knee injury forced him to give up riding.

While sidelined because of his injury, Williams answered an advertisement for a part-time job at Southwind Farms. His horsemanship and attention to detail eventually led him to his current position at the farm. He has cared for some of the sport’s top stallions, beginning with Valley Victory and Artsplace to today with Muscle Hill.

NEW JERSEY FARES WELL IN2017 DAN PATCH AWARDS

Yannick Gingras Photo: Lisa Photo

Charlie Williams with Muscle Hill. Photo courtesy of Southwind Farms

ATTENTION NEW JERSEY BREEDERSRebate Updates : Applicants that have a 2018 foal by Lis Mara will receive a 50% rebate of your paid stud fee (up to $1,250). In order to obtain your rebate you must supply the SBOANJ office with proof of stud fee payment in the form of a canceled check. The deadline is August 31, 2018. Syndicate shares and/or comp breedings are not eligible.

Resident mare program applicants are eligible to receive a rebate up to $500. Owners must provide the

SBOANJ proof of foaling in New Jersey via the USTA foal registration. The applicant must be the owner of record at the time of foaling. Be sure to register your foal as soon as possible, the deadline to receive the rebate is October 31, 2018.

2018 incentive programs will also offer a stud fee rebate and a resident mare rebate.

Contact the SBOANJ office for more information.

2018SBOANJSponsoredRaces

Foalsof2016SBOANJSponsoredRaces

Foalsof2017SBOANJSponsoredRaces

Race Condi=on Loca=on

Futurity#52 3yearoldtro1ers/pacers FreeholdRaceway

Futurity#53 2yearoldtro1ers FreeholdRaceway

GardenStateTrot#1 2yearoldtro1ers MeadowlandsRacetrack

SmithTrot 3yearoldtro1ers FreeholdRaceway

HomeGrownPace#1 2yearoldpacers FreeholdRaceway

Race Condi=on RaceYear Loca=on

GardenStateTrot#1 2-year-oldtro1ersNJsired 2018 MeadowlandsRacetrack

GardenStateTrot#1 3-year-oldtro1ersNJsired 2019 FreeholdRaceway

Futurity#53 2-year-oldtro1ersNJsired 2018 FreeholdRaceway

Futurity#53 3-year-oldtro1ersNJsired 2019 FreeholdRaceway

HomeGrownPace#1 2-year-oldpacersNJsired,foaled,SDF 2018 FreeholdRaceway

HomeGrownPace#1 3-year-oldpacersNJsired,foaled,SDF 2019 FreeholdRaceway

Race Condi=on RaceYear Loca=on

GardenStateTrot#2 2yearoldtro1ersNJsired 2019 MeadowlandsRacetrack

GardenStateTrot#2 3yearoldtro1ersNJsired 2020 FreeholdRaceway

Futurity#54 2yearoldtro1ersNJsired 2019 FreeholdRaceway

Futurity#54 3yearoldtro1ersNJsired 2020 FreeholdRaceway

Foals of 2016 SBOANJ Sponsored Races

2017 FREEHOLD RACEWAY LEADING DRIVER & TRAINERFreehold Raceway closed its 2017 season with the dynamic duo of Andy Miller and Nick Surick taking home the trophies for Leading Driver and Trainer, respectively

Leading Trainer Nick Surick absolutely dominated the 2017 Freehold meet with a USR .526. He won a total of 189 races, more than four times as many wins a his competitors. On the road to his second training title at Freehold, the 29-year-old Freehold native also passed a milestone of 1,000 wins.

Andy Miller captured his second driving title at Freehold this year with 145 wins and a UDR .484.

Surrounded by their friends and family in the winner circle, Miller and Surick received their awards from General Manager Howard Burno and Director of Racing Karen Fagliarone.

Freehold holds live racing with a post time of 12:30 pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Director of Racing Karen Fagliarone and General Manager Howard Burno present Andy Miller and Nick Surick with their awards. Photo courtesy of World Wide Racing Photos

TrotPAC trustees would like to thank

the members of the Standardbred

Breeders and Owners Association of

New Jersey for all of their donations

and support throughout 2017.

TrotPAC will continue to work on

behalf of the New Jersey horsemen

to meet with politicians on a regular

basis to help raise awareness to the

harness racing industry’s need for

alternative revenue.

TrotPAC will need your continued

support and contributions in order

to promote our industry in an

effective manner.

V I S I T T R O T P A C . O R G F O R M O R E I N F O R M A T I O N

THE NEW VENDOR DISCOUNT PROGRAMThis year the SBOANJ has announced a vendor discount program for all members. Members

will be able to receive discounts, special offers or free gifts from various vendors by simply showing their SBOANJ membership card. Keep an eye out for new vendors in our next issue.

Since 1965 Dill’s has been family owned and operated. Starting off as a small harness shop and now carrying a wide variety of products

for all pet, farm and lawn needs.* In store only excludes bedding & sales tax

Offer good in Renaissance Dining Room. Good

any Friday until May 25, 2018. Dine in only. Non

transferable. Limit one offer per table. May not be

combined with any other offer. Not valid for groups.

Owned by longtime horseman Jim Winske.

Our specialty is in providing high quality

custom products at a great price.

Free Set Up On Stock Logos

Since our beginning as a small initiative driven by a

handful of individuals, we have striven to enhance

the human horse connection, and by doing so,

contribute what we can to this beautiful sport.

dillsfeed.com • 732-462-2251 263 Throckmorton St. Freehold, NJ 07728

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK ATDILL’S FEED AND PET SUPPLIES

freeholdraceway.com • 732-462-3800 130 Park Avenue Freehold, NJ 07728

embroideryunl.com • 508-485-5522 449 Boston Post Rd. East Ste #5 Marlborough, MA 01752

horze.com • 877-647-4422Store Front at the Meadowlands Racetrack

WORLD OF HORSE RACING

$5

10

10 15

10

OFF*

OFF OFF

%

% %

%

purchase of $50 or more per visit

discount on food & beverage

purchase of $100 or more purchase of $200 or more

discount on apparel

Please contact the SBOANJ office if you have a service you would like to offer.

EXCLUSIVE

OFFERS

OR

This is a course that will both challenge experienced

players while helping newcomers relax as they enjoy

learning to play. This must-play Central New Jersey

golf course has hosted the SBOANJ’s Annual Golf

Outing for over 10 years at a discounted rate.

Pink Restaurant combines tiered dining with

amazing views of the racing from every seat in

the house.

In 1978 when Rick Wills opened the 1000 sq.ft.

Rick’s Saddle Shop in Englishtown, NJ, our goal

was to become the most complete retailer in

products of interest for the horse and rider.

Founded in 1996 by 4th generation horseman Jerry Evilsizor. Jerry left Chicago in 1976 to come to the

Meadowlands on opening day and has never left.offer expires 3/31/18.

We provide a one stop shop for all of your

landscaping needs, including plants, mulches,

stones, paving material, snow removal

equipment and much more.

gamblerridge.com • 609-758-3588 121 Burlington Path Rd. Cream Ridge, NJ 08514

playmeadowlands.com • 201-460-4079 1 Racetrack Drive, East Rutherford, NJ 07073

saddlesource.com • 732-446-433029 Park Avenue Englishtown, NJ 07726

91 Highland Ridge Rd Manalapan, New Jersey 07726732-780-1295

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK TO KEEP UP TO DATE ON SEASONAL SERVICES

pantanonursery.com • 732-786-8503145 Freehold Rd. Manalapan, NJ 07726

$5

10

OFF

%

$20OFFfor one player

includes green fees and cart rentalweekdays only

offers expire 3/31/18

at Gamblers Bar & Grill10 %OFF

a menu item

pink dining room

discount on order

CLICK TO VIEW DISCOUNT

EXCLUSIVE

OFFERSMEMBERSONLY

10OFF%

SPRING CLEAN UP

Julie Miller grew up in Iowa and started her career in Illinois, but she and her family have called New Jersey home for a dozen years. In October, Miller was elected to a director position on the board of the Standardbred Breeders a n d O w n e r s A s s o c i a t i o n o f N e w Jersey, filling a spot in the trainer/driver category.

“We moved to New Jersey because the Meadowlands was the best of the best in the world,” said Miller, who t ra i n s a s t a b l e o f 6 0 h o r s e s at G a i t way Fa r m i n Manalapan. “I’m well aware of the difficulties New Jersey racing faces right now and I want to help horsemen and horsewomen in New Jersey.” “It’s my passion for the racing. I don’t want to be on the sidelines, on the bench, complaining. I want to be on the court trying to make a difference. I’m really excited for the opportunity. I’m glad people thought enough of me to vote for me and I hope to contribute and be an asset.” Miller and her husband, driver Andy Miller, have been fixtures at the state’s racetracks since arriving in the Garden State with their children, Tyler and Olivia. Miller has won more than 1,650 races as a trainer and is perhaps best known for her successes with Dan Patch Award-winning trotter Lucky Jim and millionaire trotter Devious Man. Prior to being elected to the SBOANJ board, Miller served on the Harness Horse Youth Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “I strongly believe that in order for our industry to continue to grow we need youth interest,” Miller said. “I believe it is imperative that we establish a method to reach younger generations.” “There is also a need to develop better opportunities for breeding and racing in New Jersey. We need something to generate income to get the purse structure back. Let’s just move in the right direction for everyone in the sport; the breeders, the owners, the trainers, the grooms. Let’s just make it better.”

MEET OUR NEW DIRECTORSSam Landy’s involvement in harness racing has touched all aspects of the sport. He has been a groom, trainer, d r i v e r , b r e e d e r , a n d o w n e r . I n October, he was elected to a director position on the board of the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey, filling a spot in the owner category.

Landy grew up behind Willowbrook Farms in Tinton Falls, where he watched the early days of the New Jersey Sire Stakes and began to develop his passion for horses and racing. His father, Eugene, bought his first horse in 1976 and later campaigned fan favorite The Porter Gray, a horse that provided Landy some of his driving wins. Since 1986, Landy and his wife Laurie have lived at Congress Hill Farm, which is also home to the couple’s nonprofit therapeutic riding center, Special Strides. Landy is the founder of the annual Open Space Pace, a parade and festival highlighting the importance of the industry to the state’s quality of life. He received the 2013 Unsung Hero Award from the U.S. Harness Writers Association for his Open Space Pace efforts and the Landy family received the 2013 Governor’s Award for Horseperson of the Year. “The parade this past year was the best ever,” Landy said about the event, which will be held for the seventh time in 2018. “The recognition we’re getting from state legislators and the New Jersey Department of Agricul-ture, from everybody involved in the horse industry, shows it’s really doing what it was meant to do, which is call attention to the fact horses preserve open space, and racing also preserves open space.” In addition, Landy, the president and CEO of UMH Properties Inc., is a member of the Rutgers University Board for Equine Advancement. “I’m very exciting about being on the SBOA,” Landy said. “My passion for harness racing and the equine industry runs deep. The legislature is aware something has to be done and something has to be done soon. We’re working on the political issues, we’re working on all issues, trying to improve things and benefit everybody.”

1095 income tax forms are being filed, you should receive them via-mail shortly.

March is the month in which we request proof of employment from all Grooms and 2nd trainers active to the SBOANJ health insurance plan. Please submit proof of employment in the form of two recent pay stubs and a copy of 2018 NJRC license.

IMPORTANT INSURANCE INFORMATION

SAM LANDY JULIE MILLER

NEW COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

Dear Members,

This year the SBOANJ Directors and TrotPAC trustees have hit the ground running on your behalf.

Myself, along with Directors Bob Boni, Mike Gulotta and TrotPAC trustees Anthony Peretti and Mark Mullen, attended Governor Phil Murphy’s inaugural ball at MetLife Stadium. All five of us spent time with members of Governor Murphy’s administration, including Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver. We will continue to support the newly appointed Governor and ask for his support and assistance in racings future endeavors.

The SBOANJ has released a new membership category. This year, an Associate Member category was created to provide the opportunity for additional participation in the association. Those interested in joining the association who are not standardbred owners, breeders or driver/trainers, but who have an interest in the industry, would be able to do so under the new category. Associate members would receive some but not all benefits of a full member including

the new discounts, the Pacesetter and all important information. For more details contact the SBOANJ office.

As most of you are aware, many of the SBOANJ’s signature races have been discontinued due to lack of entries. As these races come to an end, we turn our focus to the future and the creation of new racing opportunities. With the strong stallion presence of Muscle Hill, Trixton and Walner, we offer the Garden State Trot. On the pacing side, we have created the Home Grown Pace. We will also continue with our futurities, but for trotters only. Check out all the conditions at sboanj.com. For those of you who did not nominate to these races, you can supplement by March 15th.

We will continue to evaluate our stakes program in order to provide the best racing incentives available for those who breed, race and board mares in New Jersey. Continue to check sboanj.com for our most up to date rebates, incentives and stakes program.

Mark Ford

From The Desk Of President Mark Ford

2018 NJ Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association Board of Directors

OWNER BREEDER DRIVER/TRAINER FINANCE/PENSION

Anthony Perretti1

Tom Pontone2

Bob Boni Sam Landy

Anthony Romano

Mike Klau1

Mark Mullen2

Steve Dey Mike Gulotta Rich Meirs

Chris Ryder1

Yannick Gingras2

Mark Ford Tom Luchento

Julie Miller

Tom Pontone1

Mike Gulotta2

Sam Landy Anthony Perretti

Chris Ryder

INSURANCE EQUINE ADVISORY/SIRE STAKES

ORGANIZATIONAL REVIEW-EMPLOYEE BUILDING & GROUNDS

Anthony Romano1

Chris Ryder2

Julie Miller Mark Mullen

Anthony Perretti

Mark Mullen1

Rich Meirs2

Bob Boni Mike Gulotta Sam Landy

Anthony Romano1

Tom Pontone2

Mark Mullen Chris Ryder

Anthony Romano1

Rich Meirs2

Steve Dey

BENEVOLENT SPECIAL EVENTS-MEMBERSHIP

PR-LEGISLATION-WEBSITE-SPECIALIZED WAGERING CONSTITUTION-BY LAWS

Chris Ryder1

Mike Klau2

Steve Dey

Anthony Perretti1

Sam Landy2

Yannick Gingras Julie Miller

Tom Pontone

Anthony Perretti1

Bob Boni2

Yannick Gingras Mike Gulotta

Anthony Romano1

Mark Mullen2

Bob Boni Chris Ryder

TrotPAC Trustees: Anthony Perretti (chairman), Sue Agopian, Robert Boni, Richard Meirs, Mark Mullen (treasurer), Alfred Ochsner, Tom Pontone, Chris Ryder and Polly Hartzell (administrator)

OFFICERS DIRECTORS Mark Ford President

Stephen Dey III VMD Thomas Luchento Yannick Gingras Richard Meirs VMD Michael Klau Julie Miller Samuel Landy Anthony Perretti Thomas Pontone

Mark Mullen 1st Vice president Robert Boni 2nd Vice President Christopher Ryder 3rd Vice President Anthony Romano Secretary Al Ochsner Exec. Administrator

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HORSEMEN’S REPRESENTATIVE Robert Boni Mark Mullen Mark Ford Anthony Perretti Linda Goss Meadowlands/Freehold Michael Gulotta Anthony Romano

Christopher Ryder

COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS 1 Chairman 2 Vice Chairman

Standardbred breederS & OwnerS aSSOciatiOn Of new JerSey64 Business Route 33, Manalapan, NJ 07726 Phone: 732-462-2357 Fax: 732-409-0741

Email: info@sboanj.com Website: www.sboanj.com

OfficerS

Mark FordPresident

Mark MullenFirst Vice President

Robert BoniSecond Vice President

Christopher RyderThird Vice President

Michael GulottaTreasurer

Anthony RomanoSecretary

Alfred Ochsner Jr.Executive

Administrator

directOrS

Stephen P. Dey III, VMD

Yannick Gingras

Michael Klau

Sam Landy

Thomas F. Luchento

Richard Meirs, VMD

Julie Miller

Anthony Perretti

Thomas Pontone

racetrack rep

Linda Goss

bOOkkeeper

Polly Hartzell

inSurance cOOrdinatOr

Maritsa Quijada

publicity cOnSultant

Courtney Stafford

impOrtantphOne numberS

New Jersey Sire Stakes609-292-8830

Harness Horsemen

International609-747-1000

License/FingerprintNJ Racing CommissionTrenton: 609-292-0613Freehold: 732-462-3800

Meadowlands: 201-460-4137

NJ Trailer Ban: NJTP800-336-5875

64 Business Route 33 Manalapan, NJ 07726