Schenectady, NY — Influential Standardbred breeder Steve Jones has been appointed a Trustee of the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund.

Jones was nominated by the majority leader of the New York State Senate and appointed by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to serve. The Fund administers the New York Sire Stakes program at pari-mutuel tracks and county fairs across the state and supports the Harry M. Zweig Memorial Fund for Equine Research at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Jones owns Cameo Hills Farm and he and his family have built it into a premier Standardbred breeding and boarding facility located on 425 acres in Montgomery, Orange County, N.Y. He started the farm in 1982 with his father, the late Hall of Famer Hal Jones.

Cameo Hills has produced some of the industry’s top stakes winners, including Deweycheatumnhowe ($3,155,178), Well Said ($2,569,342), and Check Me Out ($1,903,795). It is home to approximately 100 broodmares, raises nearly 60 yearlings every year, and stands stallions Huntsville and So Surreal. Jones runs the farm with his wife Kathy and sons Tyler and Jake. Dating back to their great-grandfather Walter, the younger Jones brothers make up the fourth generation to help direct the business.

“Steve’s extensive knowledge of breeding and his practical, no-nonsense approach to the industry will make him a great asset to the Board as we close in on 50 years of the New York Sire Stakes program,” said Kelly Young, Executive Director of the Fund. “He is known for being on the leading edge of the Standardbred breeding industry and we look forward to tapping into his valuable insight and life-long experience in the sport.”

As a respected leader in the industry, Jones serves on the board of both the Hambletonian Society and the Grand Circuit, two entities that directly encourage top-level racing in North America. A longtime member of the Board of Directors at Goshen Historic Track, he has served as president since 2014. He has also been a member of the Board of Trustees at the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame since 2013.

The Fund Board of Trustees also includes Barry Sample, Chairman of the New York State Gaming Commission, and Richard Ball, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. Peter Arrigenna recently resigned from the Board after serving for more than seven years.

The Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund’s core mission is to promote agriculture through the breeding of Standardbred horses and the conduct of equine research in New York. For more information, visit www.nysirestakes.com.