There was a big smile on Michael Campbell’s face when he saw the New Jersey-born foal. Danno’s Book won the Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) on June 8 Saratoga Race Track.
“I think it’s great. He’s a good horse and (trainer) Derek Ryan has done a great job of preparing him and picking races for him,” Campbell said of the $910,625-earning horse bred by Gregory Kilka and Bright View Farm. “He’s a real racehorse.”
For Campbell, the joy of Book’em Danno’s top-level victory is tied to his job as executive director of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Breeders Association.
Thanks to Bucchero With the win by gelding Woody Stephens for his Atlantic Six Racing ownership group, the New Jersey breeding program has its first Grade 1 winner since Green Gratto won the 2017 Carter Handicap (G1).
And this publicity and acclaim couldn’t come at a better time for New Jersey’s breeding program.
While a series of $10 million in state subsidies and sports betting revenue have boosted racing at Monmouth ParkIt’s a different story for ranchers in the state.
Only 51 days at Monmouth Park and another 10 on pasture alone at The Meadowlands, New Jersey — horses raised here essentially have a viable racing opportunity in their home state for about a third of the year, from May through September. That’s hardly a strong incentive for breeders to start or increase their horse numbers in the Garden State.
“Book’em Danno is one of the top sprinters in the country and we’re excited for him to be a Jersey stallion. He’s been a great representative of the program since he started racing at Monmouth and continued racing in Saudi Arabia and came back and won a Grade 1 in New York with a great effort,” Campbell said. “That’s been helpful, but honestly, I don’t think we’re going to see a huge influx of mares and people wanting to come to the program because of the uncertainty of the future of New Jersey racing. We only have 51 days at Monmouth and 10 days at The Meadowlands. There’s not a lot of opportunity for a Jersey stallion to race in New Jersey. We need more days.”
While state subsidies are important to New Jersey horse breeders, the move from a five-year commitment to an annual $10 million award has had an impact on breeders. That issue will soon be resolved, as a bill restoring the five-year subsidy is expected to be signed by Governor Phil Murphy.
“We’ve been doing subsidies year by year for the last few years, and you can’t build a breeding program like that. When someone breeds a mare and then takes a foal to the racetrack in a few years, you don’t know what the situation is going to be like with race days and subsidies,” Campbell said. “There’s a bill on the governor’s desk for another five-year subsidy that hasn’t been signed yet. The governor is a big supporter of horse racing, and I hope he signs it.”
Reflecting on the situation, Campbell said there were about 90-95 foals in the state this year. There were 115 foals in 2021 alone.
Campbell said that given the current circumstances, Monmouth has done a good job of hosting Jersey races.
“Monmouth has done a great job of working with us and the trainers to get as many Jersey races as possible. You can’t please everyone, but there are opportunities throughout the racing season,” Campbell said.
Racehorses bred in the state may also receive bonuses when racing in New Jersey.
For breeders of registered Jersey stallions that finish first through fourth in a restricted race and are out-of-state or unregistered New Jersey stallions, there will be a 25% bonus associated with the prize. The payout is capped at $10,000 for first place and $5,000 for second through fourth place. For horses bred by in-state stallions, there will be a 35% bonus up to $10,000 with the same cap.
In open races at Monmouth, there is a 40% bonus for the top three finishing positions of Jersey stallions, up to $15,000 for the owner.
“We added a bonus on Wednesday to help owners. We felt it was important to reward as many people as possible,” Campbell said. “Even if it’s just a few hundred dollars at a time, it’s more money in people’s pockets.”
In the case of Book’em Danno, a son of Ghost Slayer The mare Adorabella did not receive a bonus for her out-of-state win at Woody Stephens. But she earned an additional $15,000 for her owner by winning the $110,000 Jersey Shore on July 19, an open tournament at Monmouth.
Book’em Danno (bay) beats Little Ni by a comfortable margin in the Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth Park
Campbell said there was prize money for out-of-state races but that ended after the subsidy was approved.
“We had a program that was for horses running out of state when there was no live racing, but then the subsidies started and we got the commission. The legislators didn’t want to see money going to out-of-state runners,” Campbell said. “We’ll look at it again at the end of the year and try to resolve the issue.”
If that happens, and Jersey owners and breeders can be rewarded for success in other states during the remaining eight months of the year, it would be a huge help to New Jersey’s horse breeding program.
In a sense, this would be another Class 1 win for New Jersey breeders.
Book’em Danno after winning the Jersey Shore Stakes at Monmouth Park
