ASSEMBLY, No. 1678

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

210th LEGISLATURE

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 4, 2002

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman ANTHONY IMPREVEDUTO

District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)

Assemblyman JOSEPH R. MALONE, III

District 30 (Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Bateman, Senators Singer and Codey

SYNOPSIS

    Concerns eligibility of certain standardbred horses for Sire Stakes Program.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

    As introduced.

(Sponsorship Updated As Of: 3/22/2002)

An Act concerning the eligibility of certain standardbred horses for the Sire Stakes Program and amending P.L.1971, c.85.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. Section 1 of P.L.1971, c.85 (C.5:5-91) is amended to read as follows:

    1. There is hereby established in the State of New Jersey a Sire Stakes Program for standardbred horses [, bred in the State of New Jersey and to be] that are the product of a registered New Jersey stallion, registered with the Standardbred Breeders' and Owners' Association of New Jersey as such and listed in their registry books.

    Those horses eligible to race under said Sire Stakes Program shall be any foal of any registered New Jersey stallion standing at a New Jersey breeding farm and either owned by a resident of the State of New Jersey or leased by a resident thereof for a period of not less than 10 years to stand the full season on a New Jersey breeding farm. A copy of any such lease shall be filed with the United States Trotting Association, the Standardbred Breeders' and Owners' Association of New Jersey and the New Jersey Racing Commission.

    Said Sire Stakes Program shall be administered by a board of trustees consisting of five members, four appointed by the Governor, two of whom shall be members of the Standardbred Breeders' and Owners' Association of New Jersey, two representatives of racing interests generally, and the Secretary of Agriculture, ex officio. Of members first appointed, the term of office of one appointee member of the Standardbred Breeders' and Owners' Association shall be 2 years, the other appointee member of such association shall be 1 year, the term of office of one appointee representing racing interests generally shall be for 2 years and the other appointee representing racing interests generally shall be for a term of 1 year. Thereafter, appointments shall be for terms of 2 years. No member of the board of trustees shall be compensated for his services, however, reasonable travel and other expenses incurred in connection with duties as members of the board may be reimbursed.

    The board of trustees is authorized to do all that is necessary for the proper administration of the said Sire Stakes Program and shall prepare, issue and promulgate rules and regulations providing for

    a. Classes and divisions of races, eligibility of horses and owners therefor and prizes and awards to be awarded.

    b. Nominating, sustaining and entry fees on horses and races.

    c. Such temporary programs including eligibility of horses, breeding, and other matters as may be necessary to make the Sire Stakes Program operable as soon as possible.

    d. Registration and certification of New Jersey stallions, mares bred to such stallions and foals produced thereby.

    e. Such other matters as the board determines to be necessary and appropriate for the proper administration and implementation of the Sire Stakes Program.

    The funds for the Sire Stakes Program pursuant to section 46 of P.L.1940, c.17, or any other law, and the nominating, sustaining and entry fees provided for herein shall be administered by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture by deposit in a trust account entitled Sire Stakes Fund. All disbursements therefrom for the payment of purses and awards, cost of administration, reimbursement of expenses of members of the board of trustees and any other appropriate expenses shall be made by the Secretary of Agriculture or his designee. A report shall be prepared and filed annually by the secretary with the Racing Commission setting forth an itemization of all deposits to and expenditures from said fund.

    Sire stake races shall be run at all licensed harness tracks in the State of New Jersey. Said races and purses and awards awarded therefor shall be pursuant to the rules and regulations of the board of trustees hereunder, the New Jersey Racing Commission and the United States Trotting Association.

(cf: P.L.1971, c.85, s.1)

    2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall be retroactive to January 1, 2002.

STATEMENT

    The New Jersey Sire Stakes Program was established by law in 1971 for the purpose of improving standardbred racing in this State. Under the program, a percentage of parimutuel pools is used to fund purses at Sire Stakes races at licensed harness tracks. Currently, in order to be eligible to participate in the program, a standardbred horse must be "bred in the State of New Jersey" and the product of a registered New Jersey stallion stabled at a New Jersey breeding farm. As a result of these requirements, both the mare and the stallion must be stabled in New Jersey when breeding occurs. This is the case even if the mare and stallion are on different farms and artificial insemination is used. These provisions have the effect of excluding from eligibility a standardbred horse which is produced by an out-of-State mare and an in-State stallion through artificial insemination.

    The bill would amend existing law to eliminate the requirement that a standardbred horse must be bred in this State in order to be eligible for the Sire Stakes Program. The requirement that a stallion must be stabled in New Jersey would be retained. Thus, the bill would permit a standardbred horse which is produced by an out-of-state mare and an in-State stallion through artificial insemination to participate in the program.

    The bill's enactment would likely increase both the number of standardbred mares bred to New Jersey stallions and the number of stallions registered in New Jersey. Thus, it would help improve the quality of standardbred horses and harness racing in this State and enable the New Jersey standardbred horse industry to better compete with standardbred horses bred in other states and Canada.