Open Space Pace

The once thriving New Jersey horse racing industry has suffered greatly due to lack of funding. New Jersey has lost the competitive advantage it once held to surrounding states. These states have instituted policies that allow casino gambling at racetracks. A portion of these funds goes directly to purse funds. As a result, the purses at all of the New Jersey tracks have been cut substantially. Without competitive purse funds training farms, breeding farms, hay, and grain farms have been forced to move to surrounding states that have more to offer. As these taxable businesses relocate outside of New Jersey these farms are being turned into housing developments and shopping centers. The New Jersey Department of Agriculture states that New Jersey lost 40,000 acres of open space between 1983 and 1996 because of the demise of the racing industry. A strong racing industry allows New Jersey to not only keep the land open, but also provide NJ with taxable open space. We believe that with the right pieces in place, New Jersey can once again reach the top of the racing industry.

The Open Space Pace is dedicated to the preservation and protection of open space in New Jersey. We have donated over $26,000 to local equine and agricultural nonprofits in our first 2 years!

We are currently looking for sponsors, support, volunteers, and any contribution that you are willing to make. We believe that if we combine our efforts we can successfully help to rejuvenate NJ’s harness racing industry while preserving open space.