New Jersey State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin visited Julie and Andy Miller’s Offshore Farm on Thursday, April 30 and met with members of the Standardbred community to hear concerns regarding a proposed adjustment to the state’s annual appropriation for horse racing purses in the fiscal year 2027 budget.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s budget proposal for FY2027 includes a $5 million USD appropriation for purses, a reduction from the $20 million USD provided in previous years. The appropriation was first introduced in 2019 as part of a five-year, $100 million USD allocation that has been renewed in subsequent years with the support of Speaker Coughlin.

An economic impact study in 2024, completed with assistance from the SBOANJ, showed horse racing generated $75 million USD annually in tax revenue for New Jersey.

Speaker Coughlin’s visit to Offshore Farm, which included a lunch reception and fundraiser, was hosted by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey and the state’s Standardbred industry’s political action committee, TrotPAC.

Among those joining Speaker Coughlin for the event were SBOANJ President Mark Ford as well as fellow officers Tony Romano, Chris Ryder, Julie Miller and Al Ochsner. The group also included SBOANJ directors Stephen Dey III, Julie Meirs and Anthony Perretti. Other industry representatives included John Campbell and Nadia Tarnawa from the Hambletonian Society and Jason Settlemoir from The Meadowlands. Many trainers and drivers were in attendance as well, including Patrick Ryder, Dexter Dunn, Johnathan Ahle, Andrew McCarthy, Tyler Miller, Mark Herschberger, Helene Engblom, Stacy Chiodo, Annie Stoebe, Joe Holloway and Trond Smedshammer.

Speaker Coughlin toured Offshore Farm during his visit, at the conclusion of which he addressed a large group of attendees to explain the budget process and pledge support for the industry. Last year, Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposed budget included a $10 million USD appropriation for horse racing purses but was restored to $20 million USD by the Legislature as part of the budget process.

(SBOANJ; photo of Andy Miller explaining the Hydrotherapy Treadmill to Craig Coughlin)