Conservationists and elected officials are joining forces in a possible bid to preserve the land on Route 33 in Millstone Township that is the current home of the Showplace Farms Standardbred training facility.
In July, operators of the facility announced that Showplace Farms will cease operations on Oct. 1. The move is the latest negative development for New Jersey’s harness racing industry.
At the time, Showplace Farms General Manager Bix DiMeo said, “It has been a good run, but with fewer horses racing and the current economic climate here in New Jersey for harness racing, this business model no longer works for us.”
Now, state assemblymen Ronald Dancer and Robert Clifton (both R-Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex, Burlington) say they are discussing the future of the 150-acre property with the Monmouth County Agricultural Development Committee, the Monmouth County Save the Horse Committee and the Monmouth Conservation Foundation.
“Every effort must be made to preserve Showplace Farms for open space and to maintain its beautiful landscape,” Dancer said.
The property features a nine-16ths mile sand track, an on-site blacksmith and tack shop, a heated indoor 90,000-gallon swimming and therapy pool, a five-eighths mile race track and additional equine facilities.
Monmouth Conservation Foundation Deputy Executive Director Amanda Brockwell said discussions regarding potential preservation efforts are in their infancy.
“We toured the property and we better understand the importance of the property in terms of its relevance to the Standardbred industry, how active it is,” Brockwell said. “We certainly want to see it preserved.”
The Showplace Farms property is in Millstone Township’s Planned Commercial Development zone on Route 33, according to municipal officials.
“We are not only losing over 100 jobs with the farm’s closing and the relocation of over 400 horses to out-of-state equine facilities, but we are concerned about the possibility of the grounds being sold for development,” Dancer said.
“This is an industry that depends on a community to be successful,” Brockwell said. “If this really important training center closes, it would potentially lead the way for other farms to close.”
Brockwell said environmental groups have also taken notice of the property and its location to important waterways.
“[The property] is located along a Category 1 waterway, so there are environmental implications to the development of this property,” she said. “That certainly causes this issue to rise higher on our radar because of its proximity to water quality issues as well.”
The state Department of Environmental Protection defines a Category 1 waterway as “waters protected from any measurable changes in water quality because of their exceptional ecological significance, exceptional recreational significance, exceptional water supply significance or exceptional fisheries resources.”
Brockwell said those involved in the matter have started to explore how much funding might be needed to keep Showplace Farm operating, but she said a specific figure cannot be provided at this early stage.
— Contact Andrew Martins at [email protected]