Matches for "Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey"

Trenton, NJ - Horsemen wishing to nominate their mares to the New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund are reminded of the approaching due date to nominate mares to the program. The official due date is Jan. 31, but since that falls during the weekend registrations postmarked by Feb. 2 will be accepted. The Standardbred Development Fund will be replacing the New Jersey Sire Stakes’ Green Acres series beginning with the 2-year-old season in 2016. Last year 221 mares were nominated in the first year of the program. The Standardbred Development Fund series will be open to all New Jersey-sired horses as well as to the offspring of mares who have spent 150 consecutive days in New Jersey and foal within the state, regardless of the stallion they are in foal to. Only mares in foal to non-New Jersey based sires need to register at this time. The registration fee is $100. Registration forms may be downloaded from the NJSS website at www.newjerseysirestakes.com.      

MANALAPAN, NJ - January 23, 2015 - Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey President Tom Luchento and Meadowlands Chairman Jeff Gural met Friday, January 23, 2015 and agreed to withdraw the trainers' rewards program and suspend ABC classification racing at the Meadowlands. "We have always been willing to explore any strategy that would bring about the best possible racing at the Meadowlands," said Luchento. "Until we have slots revenue, which I feel is not far off, we have to be responsive and creative to whichever concepts will fill the entry box and provide the full, competitive fields that are the hallmark of the Meadowlands. Director of Racing Peter Koch will be issuing his condition sheets to reflect the return to condition racing. "We hope these changes are reflective of both the needs of the trainers and race office," Luchento added. "The SBOANJ and the Gural team are partners in making the Meadowlands a success and look forward to a return to the glory days of harness racing in East Rutherford." The trainers' rewards program was a preference system instituted in 2014 to provide preferences to trainers who supported the spring and summer racing programs. Carol Hodes for SBOANJ

Wilmer T. “Bill” Butler, a longtime horseman and former Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey director, passed away on Saturday, December 27, 2014 at his home on the family farm in the Franklin Township community of Asbury, NJ. Butler was 88.  Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 3, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the Devlin Funeral Home, 695 Corliss Avenue, Phillipsburg, NJ.  Visitation will be held Friday, January 2, 2015 from 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to time of services in the funeral home. Burial will be in Bloomsbury Cemetery in Greenwich Township. “He had been in failing health of late but still his ebullient self,” said his daughter Bonnie Butler, mayor of Franklin Township. Bill Butler served in the Navy during World War II, competed on the rodeo circuit and managed his father’s auto agency on Staten Island before he entered the standardbred industry through another Staten Island native, Hall of Famer Anthony Abbatiello.  Butler began driving and training horses in 1962.  Butler’s Mountainview Farm was purchased by his father in 1946 as a weekend retreat.  Among the top horses campaigned by Butler were Straight A by Dale Frost and Butler’s Burner by Oil Burner. “Dad served on the SBOA Board for about eight years, beginning in the late 1960's and then later in the late 1970's into the 1990's - about 25 years total,” said Bonnie Butler. “He originally got involved to ensure that the horseman had a strong voice and was one of the key people involved in the implementation of the Health Insurance/Pension program.”  

MANALAPAN, NJ -- December 17, 2014 - The deadline is approaching for open enrollment for the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey health insurance program for qualified drivers, trainers and grooms who are not currently insured. Eligible participants must be enrolled by December 31, 20143 to qualify for 2015 coverage. Application forms and other information are available on sboanj.com under the Health Insurance link. by Carol Hodes, for the SBOANJ

MANALAPAN, NJ - December 12, 2014 - The Breeders Committee of the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey has selected Michael Gulotta's Deo Volente Farms as the 2014 New Jersey Standardbred Breeder of the Year. Deo Volente will be among the honorees at the 58th Annual New Jersey Breeders Awards Luncheon at 1 p.m. on January 25, 2015 at Charley's Other Brother in Eastampton Township, NJ. Deo Volente Farms features state-of-the-art accommodations for stallions, mares and foals. Currently, it is the home to 37 mares, 25 foals and two stallions. The 120 acres of black-fenced paddocks and stabling are located in Franklin Township, NJ. It was the success of a horse named Lis Mara, the 2006 Older Pacer of the Year and earner of more than $2 million, which led to the purchase of the land on Quakertown Road, construction of the farm and the concept of horses supporting a charity which builds homes in Haiti. The newest addition to Deo Volente is 2014 Hambletonian winner Trixton, who will make his debut as a trotting stallion based in New Jersey in 2015. He will share the four-horse stallion barn at Deo Volente with pacer If I Can Dream. In two seasons of racing, Trixton earned $947,057, taking his mark of 1:50.3 in the Hambletonian. Trixton is by a Hambletonian winner - Muscle Hill, whose sire, Muscles Yankee also won harness racing's richest and most prestigious trotting event for three-year-olds. Trixton will stand for a fee of $12,000 in 2015. Deo Volente, which is Latin for "God Willing," is a showcase facility which opened in 2008, featuring a striking stone entrance and bronze statuary of a romping mare and foal. The cream of the broodmare band includes BJs Canouan, Electric Fool, See and Be Seen and Yursa Hanover. Gulotta was co-breeder of 2013 Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year and New Jersey Standardbred of the Year I Luv The Nitelife, who retired with earnings of nearly $2 million. She is out of another Deo Volente broodmare of note, Lisjune. Previous New Jersey Breeder of the Year winners include three-time winner White Birch Farm, two-time winner Perretti Farms, Valley High Stables, Southwind Farms, Kentuckiana Farms, Fair Winds Farm, Walnridge Farm and Heritage Hill Farms. For tickets to the awards luncheon, which are $35 each, contact Kim Tkacs at 609-292-8830. by Carol Hodes, for SBOANJ  

MANALAPAN, NJ - December 2, 2014 - The New Jersey SPCA will visit the Swedesboro, NJ farm where Monica Thors is stabled today. "We wanted to share with the concerned horsemen and public, who are following this case, that we have learned that the NJ SPCA is going to the farm today to evaluate the conditions and conduct a thorough investigation into the horses in her care," said Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey President Tom Luchento. "We expect a resolution soon." By Carol Hodes, for the SBOANJ      

East Rutherford, NJ - The Meadowlands is pleased to announce the $1 million Graduate Series, a new initiative designed to provide racing opportunities for four-year-old trotters and pacers in 2015.   While the schedule will not be finalized until the December stakes meetings, the series will offer three legs tentatively beginning in late May with $50,000e legs at Tioga Downs, continue through June at The Meadowlands with the purse increasing to $75,000e then $100,000e for legs two and three. The Graduate Finals will be raced at The Meadowlands in early July with the purse for each gait guaranteed at $250,000.   Meadowlands Chairman Jeff Gural has been vocal in his advocacy of keeping the equine stars of the sport on the track beyond their sophomore season and spoke on the intent of the series.   "I consider keeping the best horses on the racetrack a priority to generate fan interest in racing. This series will provide what the connections of those horses have indicated a need for, a chance to race against horses of their own age until mid-season, when they will graduate into the open stakes," said Gural. "I appreciate the support of Tommy Luchento, Leo McNamara and the New Jersey horsemen in recognizing the importance of creating races that will appeal to our customers by bringing back recognizable names that hopefully will attract new younger customers while appealing to our regular customer base as well."   Further details on the Graduate Series will be made available as they become final.   From the Meadowlands Media Department

This is a reminder to all horsemen that beginning with the November 14th racing program, any New Jersey Sired horse entered in a race with a condition of non-winners of one, two, three or four pari-mutuel races will race for 60-percent more than the listed purse. The bonus program encompasses both sexes of horse as well as gait. The Meadowlands wanted to issue this reminder prior to the Harrisburg Mixed Sale as there will be lucrative opportunities for New Jersey Sired horses selling at Harrisburg at the upcoming Meadowlands meet. The purse structure will be as follows: Non-winners of one: $10,000 (plus $6,000 for NJ sired horses) Non-winners of two: $12,500 (plus $7,500 for NJ sired horses) Non-winners of three: $15,000 (plus $9,000 for NJ sired horses) Non-winners of four: $17,500 (plus $10,500 for NJ sired horses) In addition, all races with a condition of non-winners of one, two, three or four pari-mutuel races will be written with first preference for all horses that are New Jersey Sired, to ensure that New Jersey sired horses have the most opportunity to compete for this bonus program. Regarding the recent announcement of trainers who have achieved entry into the trainers rewards program, The Meadowlands would like to reiterate that the program does not include races classified B-1 or higher, nor does it include stakes, late closer or early closer events. In addition, the program is limited to the period of November 14, 2014 through February 28, 2015 to ensure our most loyal trainers are able to get their horses raced when The Meadowlands entry box is in its highest demand. The program was designed in conjunction with the SBOANJ with the sole purpose of rewarding those trainers who supported The Meadowlands during the period of time that it proves most difficult to fill the entry box. Any horsemen with questions, comments or concerns should contact either The Meadowlands Race Office or the SBOANJ as any input is valued and appreciated. by Darin Zoccali, for the Meadowlands  

In March of this year, The Meadowlands announced that it will begin keeping track of trainer's entries with the purpose of implementing a rewards program which would go into effect on November 14th of this year. In conjunction with the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey, The Meadowlands has identified the following trainers as earning entrance into the Rewards Program. These names are strictly alphabetical as each of these trainers shares equal benefits when entering their horses to race at The Meadowlands. 1. Eric Abbatiello 2. Tony Alagna 3. Ronald Burke 4. Mark Capone 5. Ron Coyne Jr. 6. Jonas Czernyson 7. Nikolas Drennan 8. Steve Elliot 9. Mark Ford 10. Mark Harder 11. Joseph Holloway 12. Richard Johnson 13. Douglas Lewis 14. Joseph Martin 15. Julie Miller 16. Larry Remmen 17. Christopher Ryder 18. Mark Silva 19. Jeffrey Smith 20. Ake Svanstedt 21. Jimmy Takter 22. Linda Toscano The trainers listed above achieved entry in the program by meeting one of two criteria: 1) Accumulating over 60 starts at The Meadowlands from March 28, 2014 through August 2, 2014 or 2) Having at least 20 starts at The Meadowlands from March 28, 2014 through August 2, 2014 where the trainer's horses raced at The Meadowlands more than all other tracks combined over that period of time. "I want to thank The Meadowlands for implementing this program," said SBOANJ President Thomas Luchento. "I am proud of the position they have taken to reward all trainers that remain steadfast in their conviction that The Meadowlands is the best place to race in the world. This program rewards loyalty, and the SBOANJ is a proud supporter of that." "I appreciate the loyalty these trainers have shown to The Meadowlands throughout this past racing season," said Meadowlands Chairman Jeff Gural. "I am happy that they will be given every opportunity to get all of their horses raced at The Meadowlands when we reopen on November 14th. Hopefully this information will prove beneficial to all the owners and trainers that are heading to Harrisburg for the upcoming Standardbred Mixed Sale." The rewards program will be applied to overnight races that are classified as B-2 or below as well as all non-winners of 1, 2, 3 or 4 pari-mutuel races. The program does not apply to early or late closers, nor does it apply to stakes events. Any horsemen with questions can contact The Meadowlands Race Office or the SBOANJ. by Darin Zoccali, for the Meadowlands  

MANALAPAN, NJ - October 16, 2014 - Sumatra made it two straight trips to the winner's circle with a two-length tally in the $25,000 New Jersey Futurity for three-year-old New Jersey-sired trotters on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at Freehold Raceway. The gelded son of Muscles Yankee - Lola Seelster covered the non-wagering mile in 1:57.2 with Brian Sears in the sulky. Angels Ransom [Revenue] was second with Choco Sun [Chocolatier] two and a half lengths back in third. Sumatra, trained by Tom Fanning, now has back-to-back stakes wins, having captured the Old Oaken Bucket at Delaware, OH on September 18. This year's record features three wins, two seconds and two thirds from 13 starts for earnings of nearly $170,000. Lifetime, he has finished in-the-money in 16 of 24 starts, banking $277,339. The $9,000 Harrisburg Sale purchase by Joseph Smith of Vero Beach, FL, was bred by Perretti Farms of Cream Ridge, NJ and Black Horse Racing of Lebanon, NJ. The New Jersey Futurity is sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey. By Carol Hodes, for the SBOANJ

MANALAPAN, NJ - October 15, 2014 - Margret "Maggi" Romano, a founding member of the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Association, has been selected to receive the 2015 Spirit of the Horse Award from the Rutgers Equine Science Center. Romano, who resides in Clarksburg, NJ, is the wife of Anthony Romano, a member of the Board of Directors of the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey. "The award recognizes people whose lives have been impacted by horses and who continue to give back to horses and the equine industry through dedicated time and service," said Dr. Karyn Malinowski, director of the Rutgers Equine Science Center. "Maggi is a person who eats, breathes and lives horses 24/7/365. She doesn't take short cuts when the well-being of a horse is involved. Her philosophy is that when dealing with horses one should give 110 percent at least, but never less than 100 percent." As a young person in Germany, she went with her father every year to Aachen to watch the international jumping competition. After high school, vocational school, advanced night school and an office job, she traveled to New York in 1977, and she was introduced to standardbred horses at the Meadowlands. Romano served two years as president and one year as show manager of the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of New Jersey [SPHO/NJ]. She is a board member of the New Jersey Horse Council, serving two years as president and as a delegate to the New Jersey Equine Advisory Board, where she served two years as vice chair and two years as chair. She currently serves as a delegate to the New Jersey Agricultural Convention and as the delegate from New Jersey to the Coalition of State Horse Councils and American Horse Council, where she serves on the Racing Advisory Committee. Maggi and her husband, Tony, currently have eight horses on their farm -- one active standardbred racehorse, six retired racehorses that she either owned or adopted, plus a mixed breed that she rescued in 2014. "Of course, it's an awesome honor to receive the Spirit of the Horse Award, but I still haven't figured out why me, so I don't know if I can live up to it," Romano said. "Previous recipients were tops in their profession and received national accolades. Maybe, it's because I am just an example of the many people who love and care for horses, day in and day out, without expecting and receiving fame and glory. And for all those people, I gratefully accept the Spirit of the Horse Award." Previous recipients include: Sandy Denarski, Dr. David Meirs II, Dr. Stephen P. Dey, Elizabeth Durkin, Toni Nigito, Rick Wills, Nancy Jaffer, Linda Toscano, Dr. Patty Hogan, and Peter Cofrancesco III. Romano will receive her award at the Rutgers Equine Science Center's Evening of Science and Celebration on Monday, November 10, 2014 at the Cook Campus Center, 59 Biel Road, New Brunswick, NJ from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. From 5 to 6 p.m. is the optional tour at the Red Barn on College Farm Road. A light supper will be available from 6 to 7 p.m. followed by the Science & Celebration, featuring speakers Angela Howard on "Preparing for Disaster" and Dr. David Horohov on "The Inflammatory Response to Exercise." Maggi Romano's Spirit of the Horse Award and the Gold Medal Horse Farm Award to Wood Hollow Farm of Colts Neck, NJ, will be presented by the Equine Science Center. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for full-time students. For more information, contact Kyle Hartmann at hartmann@aesop.rutgers.edu, call 848-932-9419 or visit esc.rutgers.edu. by Carol Hodes, for SBOANJ  

MANALAPAN, NJ – October 2, 2014 – Robert M. Baggitt Sr. of Allentown, NJ, a longtime horse owner and a member of the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association Board of Directors since 1985, passed away on Wednesday, October 1, 2014.  He was 81. Baggitt was on the owner, finance, pension and special events committees of the SBOANJ.  For many years, he co-chaired the SBOANJ’s golf outing, which each year raised money for the horsemen’s benevolent fund. He was a 34 year member and director of the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association and a member of the U.S. Trotting Association. He was predeceased by his parents, William C. and Angela Mount Baggitt; a sister, Ann Baggitt, his brothers, Jack Baggitt and wife Joanne and William Baggitt; and brother-in-law, Arthur Smock. Surviving are his wife, Sandra Powers Baggitt; his children, Robert M. Baggitt, Jr. and his wife Christine, Ellen Cunningham and her husband Michael, Larry Baggitt and wife Tina, Timothy Baggitt and wife Kelly, Nancy and husband Robert Fitts; two sisters Rosemary Smock and June Higgins and her husband Larry; his grandchildren, Tyler Baggitt, Erica McDonald, Logan and Connor Cunningham, Alessandra, Lauren, Christina and Riley Baggitt; and  Bob J. and Jesse Fitts; great grandchildren Ella McDonald and Rylee Fitts; and many nieces and nephews. Visiting will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  The Funeral Liturgy will be celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church, Freehold on Monday at 10:00 a.m. followed by interment at St. Rose of Lima Cemetery.  IN lieu of flowers, memorial donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 would be appreciated. by Carol Hodes, for SBOA/NJ