Harness Horse Breeders of New York thank industry for its support
April 25, 2017,from the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State
Latham, NY — The support from the Standardbred industry members has been truly amazing and much appreciated by the Harness Horse Breeders of New York.
It seems with bad news also comes the realization of how we are all connected and how much we all love this sport.
The contract issues do not look good for us but the Harness Horse Breeders will continue to support the NY program and devote all of our efforts and time representing our membership.
As breeders we are proud to have been the driving force in creating the NYSS program and will continue to watch over it.
Our office received many calls and emails of support over the last few days and we would like to share one letter (with firsthand knowledge of what can happen in a state) and thank the following people for their support and a special thank you to all those who contacted the trustees directly.
Tom Grossman, Blue Chip Farm
David Hanson
Leatherstocking Equine
Edward Mower
Alan Leavitt, President Walnut Hall Limited
Keith Hamilton, past Agriculture and NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund Trustee
Nicola Adams, Perretti Farms
Seth Rosenfeld, Birnam Wood Farms
Letter of support shared by Perretti Farm
Dear Ronald,
I read with dismay that you are considering replacing the Harness Horse Breeders of New York with an outside firm. At Perretti Farms we have found the Harness Horse Breeders of New York are exemplary in the services that they offer the harness racing community. There is nothing else in the industry that compares to the wealth of information, always updated accurately and timely on their website. Also their printed publications, the stallion guide and periodic magazine provide very useful information in a very polished and professional manner.
Here at Perretti Farms, a 700 acre equine facility in Cream Ridge, N.J., just this past weekend we advertised one of our stallions standing in NY. Our ad included the statement that NY was the best Sires Stakes program in the nation. This is something that NY should be trying to protect. We have seen all too clearly in NJ what can happen when administrators and politicians turn their backs on their programs. NJ’s once thriving Standardbred industry has all but left the state.
In NY you have fostered and encouraged your harness industry and have achieved great results. Our advice is where you see excellence and leadership, don’t be tempted to replace it with a budget service.
Sincerely,
Nicola Abrams
Manager
Perretti Farms
- Horsemen’s concerns for the New York program (Sunday, April 23, 2017)
As Standardbred horsemen that participate in the New York Sire Stakes program we have very real reason for concern. The Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding and Development Fund, which oversees monies used to administer the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS), is on the verge of replacing the Harness Horse Breeders of New York (HHBNYS) with the Albany-based firm, Capitol Hill Management Services Inc. The President of Capitol Hill Management Services Inc. is John Graziano Jr., a politically appointed trustee on the New York Thoroughbred Breeding Development Fund as well as a registered lobbyist.
- Blue Chip Farms supports HHBNYS (Tuesday, April 25, 2017)
As the largest commercial Standardbred breeding farm in New York state for the last 20 years, our success and future growth couldn’t be more aligned with that of the New York Sire Stakes program.
- HHBNYS issues statement on NYSS program change (Friday, April 28, 2017)
On April 27 the contracts put out for bid for the administration and promotion of the New York Sire Stakes program were awarded to Capitol Hill Management Services by the Agriculture and New York State Breeding and Development Fund (Fund). A contract for both services was previously held by the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State (HHBNYS).