Loss of State's Largest Standardbred Breeder a Concern to Oceanport Council

Councilman Joseph A. Irace, a member of the Monmouth Park Task Force, voiced his concern about the loss of Cream Ridge's Perretti Farms, New Jersey's largest standardbred breeder, at the Oceanport council meeting Thursday. Here are his remarks, presented unedited:

Yesterday's announcement by Perretti Farms, the largest standardbred breeder in New Jersey, that they are putting up the "for sale" sign and closing shop in the state is the latest blow to our racing industry.  Mr. Perretti had made it clear in the past that Trenton needed to change their way of thinking in order to allow our farms a chance to compete with the surrounding states.  Once again, slot machines, VLT’s or a gaming casino in the Meadowlands would have been the answer to keep Perretti Farms not only viable, but successful.  What becomes of Peretti Farms one can only wonder, Mc Mansions, condos, strip malls?

Yesterday's news led Assemblywoman Connie Wagner of Bergen County to become the latest member of Trenton to call for VLT’s in the Meadowlands. Assemblyman Ralph Caputo was quoted in the paper a day earlier calling for the same.  Our District 12 Representatives Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon and Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande have been vocal for years on this yet it continues to be held up by parochial politics and not common sense.

More Monmouth Musings blog says that over 100 farms are listed as for sale at bargain basement prices in New Jersey.  Where does it end? As Perretti closes and takes 30 fulltime jobs and countless ancillary jobs away from the state what more does it take for Trenton to move on VLTs?

As we know from our own experience with Fort Monmouth, the last thing New Jersey needs is additional strip malls and more housing.  I urge all our elected representatives to bring this issue up for a vote in the Assembly and Senate.  Every day we waste hurts our farms, race tracks, horsemen and most importantly the taxpayers of New Jersey.