(TRENTON)-Governor James E. McGreevey signed into law today Assembly Bill 1678, which eliminates the requirement that a standardbred horse be bred within New Jersey in order to be eligible for the Sires Stakes program.

Currently, the only horses eligible for the Sires Stakes program are standardbred horses that have been sired by stallions registered and resident in New Jersey to mares bred in New Jersey. This bill will allow foals that have been conceived outside of the State, but are the descendents of stallions registered and resident in New Jersey, to be eligible for Sires Stakes races.

"The elimination of the requirement that standardbred horses be bred in New Jersey will bring additional vitality and competition to the Sires Stakes races," said McGreevey.

The Sires Stakes program was designed to act as an incentive for horse farms to remain in New Jersey through the creation of a special series of horse races known as Sires Stakes.

The bill was sponsored by Assemblymen Anthony Impreveduto (D-Bergen/ Hudson) and Joseph Malone (R-Burlington/ Monmouth/ Ocean). The Senate version was sponsored by Senators Robert Singer (R-Burlington/ Monmouth/Ocean) and Dick Codey (D-Essex).