More Than $455,000 Granted for Harness Racing Industry Improvements

Posted by September 16, 2024 Horse Racing
More Than 5,000 Granted for Harness Racing Industry Improvements

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FUNDING …

Five organizations were awarded grants to support research, educational programs and promote harness racing in New York

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Receiving the grant check on behalf of the New York State 4-H Horse Program was Brieanna Hughes, NYS Equine Youth Specialist, Extensions Associate, Jessica Tyson, NYS 4H Horse Events Coordinator and Ellie Grace, 4H Member. (Courtesy photo)

ALBANY — More than $455,000 in grant funding will support improvement, growth and maintenance of New York’s harness racing industry in 2024-2025, following grant announcements from the Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund.

The Fund, which promotes agriculture through the breeding of Standardbred horses, equine research and the state’s robust harness racing program, recently held its annual Grant Awards Ceremony at the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame in Goshen. Fund Chair Brian O’Dwyer announced the grant recipients with fellow Fund Board members Richard A. Ball and Steve Jones as well as Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund Executive Director Ralph Scunziano in attendance.

“These grants build on New York’s commitment to standardbred horse breeding, racing, education and research, and the Fund is proud to recognize these organizations and assist in continuing their positive contributions to the industry,” said Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund Executive Director Ralph Scunziano.

Five organizations were awarded grants to support research, educational programs and promote harness racing in New York:

  • New York State 4-H Horse Program – $200,000 for its statewide program
  • Morrisville College Foundation – $109,349 for Standardbred Breeding Expansion Project
  • Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame – $100,000 for its education department and exhibit
  • Goshen Historic Track – $34,442 for ongoing restoration and upgrades
  • Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga – $12,000 for Harnessing Hope

The grants are funded via statutory payments from racetracks, off-track betting corporations, video lottery terminal facilities and casinos. The Fund Board reviewed all submissions and voted unanimously to award grants to these five entities in recognition of the important role they play in supporting the harness racing industry.

The New York Sire Stakes hosts its 2024 Excelsior Finals today at Vernon Downs Casino Hotel in Vernon, NY, with a post time of 6:05 p.m. This follows the successful New York Sire Stakes Day of Champions and County Fair Series Finals that took place earlier this month.

The Fund announced last week that all three Series Finals will award record-setting purse totals in 2025, as well as marking a significant increase to the Breeders Award Program next season. Click here for more details.

The New York Sire Stakes serves as a model for in-state breeding and racing programs and is the nation’s oldest harness racing program of its kind. For more information, visit nysirestakes.com.

About the Agriculture & NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund: The Agriculture & NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund is a public benefit corporation established in 1965 by the Laverne Law (Laws of New York, Chapter 567 of the Laws of 1965). The mission of the fund is to promote agriculture through the breeding of Standardbred horses and the conduct of equine research within the state. To carry out its legislative mission, the Fund administers the New York Sire Stakes races, Excelsior Series races, and County Fair races. 

–Agriculture & NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund