After having just gone through a long and drawn out battle for the future of the harness racing industry in the state of New Jersey, SBOANJ President Tom Luchento has seen what has been going on in Ontario over the past week, and it has spurred him to offer his organization's support

.

In a statement in regard to the Ontario Government's view of the highly successful slots-at-racetracks program, Luchento said that, "The fact that the government looks at this issue as a 'supplement' is clearly incorrect."

Luchento went on to say that, "I ask all the horsemen and women in North America to please stand together and reject this report for what it is, a government trying to cure its problems by destroying our business."

The SBOANJ statement appears below in its entirety.

February 21, 2012

To Standardbred Canada,

Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey support the Ontario horse racing industry.

In light of the recent release of the Drummond Report, I feel compelled to comment on this situation.

In these difficult economic times, everyone is trying to make ends meet. But to steal from one program to fund other programs is simply not sound fiscal policy.

The fact that the government looks at this issue as a supplement is clearly incorrect. Looking at it from the horse industry point of view, all of the horsemen and woman in North America should be concerned with the position the Ontario government has taken.

We need to preserve the agricultural benefits that our industry brings to the table. This position paper is not just a shot across the bow; this is the real deal, a threat to our existence.

I ask all the horsemen and women in North America to please stand together and reject this report for what it is, a government trying to cure its problems by destroying our business.

New Jersey horsemen and women support our Ontario brothers and are ready to help preserve this industry and our way of life.

Sincerely,
Tom Luchento
President SBOANJ