New Jersey State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin on Thursday (April 30) visited Julie and Andy Miller’s Offshore Farm, where he 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 ...
CREAM RIDGE, NJ — May 4, 2026 -- Cream Ridge, NJ — New Jersey State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin on Thursday (April 30) visited Julie and Andy Miller’s Offshore Farm, where he 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 appropriation for purses, a reduction from the $20 million provided in previous years. The appropriation was first introduced in 2019 as part of a five-year, $100 million allocation that has been renewed in subsequent years with the vital support of Speaker Coughlin.
An economic impact study in 2024, completed with assistance from the SBOANJ, showed horse racing generated $75 million 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 McCarthey, Tyler Miller, Mark Herschberger, Helen 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 appropriation for horse racing purses but was restored to $20 million by the Legislature as part of the budget process.
