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A4043
ASSEMBLY, No. 4043
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 12, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman� ALEX SAUICKIE
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Scharfenberger
SYNOPSIS
���� Provides $1 million in funding to NJ Racing
Commission for five-year grant program for purpose of supporting certain
organizations that care for retired horses.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
establishing a five-year grant program for the care of
retired Standardbred and Thoroughbred horses and making an appropriation.
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� The Legislature finds
and declares that:
���� The horse racing industry is
economically important to this State, and the general welfare of the people of
the State will be promoted by the advancement of horse racing and related
projects and facilities in the State.��
���� In 2019, prior to the COVID-19
pandemic, the horse racing industry conducted over 2,000 races and the total
handle wagered in New Jersey amounted to approximately $1 billion.
���� The horse racing industry
generates millions of dollars in tax revenue each year for the State, employs
thousands of workers, and operates two historical racetracks.
���� The horses that run in these
races are the backbone of the horse racing industry and the main reason
hundreds of thousands of fans come out to support the racetracks each year.�����
���� While the horse racing
industry and respective associations do support their retired horses through
various programs, including charity racing days, more can be done.
���� The racehorses that drive
these profits and benefits to the State deserve to be cared for in their
retirement.
���� The care for retired horses is
an important matter of public policy and, therefore, it is appropriate for the
State to establish a grant program for the purpose of supporting certain
organizations that care for retired horses.
���� 2.� a. �The New Jersey Racing
Commission shall establish a five-year grant program for the purpose of
providing funds to assist with the care of retired horses.� In establishing the
five-year program, the commission shall develop an application by which
accredited organizations may apply for grants pursuant to this section and
develop the criteria the commission will utilize to award the grants.
���� b. (1) To be considered for
the grants, an applicant shall be a nonprofit organization operating under 26
U.S.C. s.501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code and shall be fully
accredited by the Standardbred Transition Alliance, Standardbred Retirement
Foundation, or Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement, dependent upon
the breed primarily being rescued and re-homed by the accredited organization.
���� (2) The requirements for the
evaluation of each applicant shall include, but need not be limited to,:
���� a statement of need;
���� demonstration of financial
stability and operational transparency;
���� evidence of qualified and experienced horsepersons attending to each
horse�s needs;
���� documentation of
well-developed screening policies to ensure proper placement of horses;
���� evidence that the applicant
maintains national standards of best practices for the industry, which may
include the Care Guidelines for Equine Rescue and Retirement Facilities
promulgated by the American Association of Equine Practitioners; and
���� written commitment to ensure
funds provided through this program will only be used for the care of New
Jersey-bred horses, or horses with a parent being a New Jersey-bred broodmare
or New Jersey-bred stallion, or both.
���� c. �The New Jersey Racing
Commission shall provide notice of the availability of funding for this
program, including notifying the Standardbred Transition Alliance, Standardbred
Retirement Foundation, and Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement of
the program.� The commission shall make the application for the grants
available on the commission's website, including the ability to submit the
application and any necessary documentation electronically.
���� d. (1) The New Jersey Racing
Commission shall award $100,000 to a qualified organization dedicated to the
care of retired Standardbred horses and $100,000 to an accredited organization
dedicated to the care of retired Thoroughbred horses each year for the next
five years following the effective date of this act, P.L.�� , c.��� (pending
before the Legislature as this bill).� In a given year, the commission shall
not award more than $200,000 in grant funding from the program established by
this act.
���� (2) After considering the
applicants, if the New Jersey Racing Commission determines that the applicants
in a given year do not meet the requirements pursuant to this act, the
available funding for that year may be distributed in equal shares as
determined by the commission to promote the care of retired Standardbred horses
and the care of Thoroughbred horses.
���� (3) Following the expiration
of the five-year grant program established by this section, any unexpended
funds shall be returned to the General Fund.
���� 3.� There is appropriated from
the General Fund to the New Jersey Racing Commission the sum of $1,000,000 to
effectuate the purposes of this act.
���� 4.� This act shall take effect
immediately.
STATEMENT
���� This bill requires the NJ
Racing Commission to establish a five-year grant program for the purpose of
providing funds to assist with
the care of retired horses.
���� Under the bill, to be
considered for the grants, an applicant must be a nonprofit organization
operating under 26 U.S.C. s.501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code and
be fully accredited by the Standardbred Transition Alliance (STA), Standardbred
Retirement Foundation (SRF), or Second Call Thoroughbred Adoption and Placement
(Second Call).� The requirements for the evaluation of each applicant must
include, but need not be limited to:
���� a statement of need;
���� a demonstration of financial
stability and operational transparency;
���� evidence of qualified and
experienced horsepersons attending to each horse�s needs; and
���� documentation of
well-developed screening policies to ensure proper placement of horses;
���� evidence that the applicant
maintains national standards of best practices for the industry, which may
include the Care Guidelines for Equine Rescue and Retirement Facilities
promulgated by the American Association of Equine Practitioners; and
���� a written commitment to ensure
funds provided through this program will only be used for the care of New
Jersey-bred horses, or horses with a parent being a New Jersey-bred broodmare
or New Jersey-bred stallion, or both.
���� The bill also requires the NJ
Racing Commission to provide notice of the availability of funding for this
program, including notifying the STA, SRF, and Second Call of the program, and
make the application available on the commission's website.
���� The bill appropriates from the
General Fund to the NJ Racing Commission the sum of $1,000,000 to establish and
implement the grant program.� The NJ Racing Commission would provide $100,000
to an accredited organization dedicated to the care of retired Standardbred
horses and $100,000 to an accredited organization dedicated to the care of
retired Thoroughbred horses each year for the next five years, which totals
$1,000,000 over a five-year period.
���� Under the bill, after
considering the applicants, if the New Jersey Racing Commission determines that
the applicants in a given year do not meet the requirements under the bill, the
available funding for that year may be distributed in equal shares as
determined by the commission to promote the care of retired Standardbred horses
and the care of Thoroughbred horses.� Following the expiration of the five-year
grant program established by the bill, any unexpended funds would be returned
to the General Fund.�