Harness Racing Museum gets $35,000 in funding

The Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund is providing $35,000 in funding to the Harness Racing Museum in Goshen, NY, for the museum to provide equine education programs to school children.

"We are happy to provide this grant to the Harness Racing Museum," said Peter Goold, executive director of the Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund. "Its equine education program provides a fun, quality learning experience for children. Fostering young people's interest in the equine industry is essential to perpetuating the standardbred breeding and racing industries in New York State and the Museum's educational programs are a vital aspect of this endeavour."

The Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund is a public benefit corporation established in 1965 by the Laverne Law. The mission of the Fund is to promote agriculture through advocating 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 Racing Program and provides grants to county agriculture societies and select equine education and research programs.

New York has a $1.4 billion equine industry, which protects nearly one million acres of farmland and provides more than 12,500 jobs annually. Specifically, the harness and standardbred breeding industries in New York contribute approximately $125 million to the state's economy each year and provide an estimated ,1500 jobs. Ensuring that young New Yorkers continue to have interest in our state's equine indusrty is crucial to ensuring the industry's viablitity in future years.

Harness Racing Museum president, Elbridge T. Gerry Jr., in acknowledging the grant, remarked, "We are deeply grateful for the enthusiastic endorsement of our educational programming by the Fund's trustees. Our efforts on behalf of the sport of harness racing, to engage the interest of people of all ages, especially the youth of New York State, will be greatly enhanced by this significant funding support."

Each year approximately 5,000 children benefit from the Harness Racing Museum's equine education programs. The programs are certified by the New York State Education Department and meet learning model standards. Programs are tailored by grade level and class needs.  (Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund)

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