from the Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund

Schenectady, NY — The Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund has awarded $150,000 in total grant funding to five organizations involved in education and promotion of the harness racing industry.

The Fund Trustees awarded grants based on the strength of the proposal, the availability of resources and meeting the statutorily mandated Mission of the Fund.

“The Racing, Pari-Mutuel Wagering and Breeding Law gives us the authorization to distribute funding to support and promote research, educational programming, and preservation of the history and traditions of harness horse racing,” said M. Kelly Young, Executive Director of the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund. “We are honored to present the grant winners with this funding as they clearly uphold the standards of this law as well as our mission at the Fund.”

The Fund awarded the following grants:

• Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame received $45,833 to support its education programming. Outreach to young people has grown in recent years and the demand for targeted harness racing programs continues to grow.

• Goshen Historic Track received $45,833 to make repairs to the Arden Barn, one of the most historically significant barns on the grounds, which is registered as a National Historic Landmark.

• 4-H Standardbred Horse Program received $45,833 for the statewide education program that focuses on advancing interest in Standardbreds. The Fund has supported 4-H for many years and Cornell Cooperative Extension has a long history of effectively providing education and awareness programs through its state-wide network.

• Harness Horse Youth Foundation received $7,500 for two hands-on summer youth programs at Goshen Historic Track in 2018. One will be a five-day camp at the introductory level and the other will be a Leadership camp for previous graduates of the first program.

• Racing Under Saddle-New York received $5,000 for the County Fair racing series purses that the Fund has supported for several years. Nine fairs will host Racing Under Saddle events this year, with a final in September. Racing Under Saddle events are well attended at the county fairs and this racing series has grown to become another way to promote and enhance New York’s Standardbred breeding and racing program.