D’Arrigo Racing Stables Receive 2014 “Gold Medal Horse Farm” Award for Equine Environmental Sustainability

New Brunswick, N.J. – The New Jersey Equine Environmental Stewardship Program is pleased to announce D’Arrigo Racing Stables as the recipient of the 2014 “Gold Medal Horse Farm” award. The award was presented during “An Evening of Celebration and Science,” the Equine Science Center’s annual year-end event.

The award and overall program gives recognition to outstanding equine farms for their dedication to environmental sustainability and management. It also underscores the efforts of the New Jersey equine industry to maintain the beauty of the Garden State. The program is a collaborative initiative by the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers University, the Rutgers Equine Science Center, and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.

D’Arrigo Racing Stables, established in 1990, is a Thoroughbred training and racing farm in Cumberland County. It is an outstanding example of an environmentally-friendly equine farm. Under the ownership and management of Dr. Philip D’Arrigo, and Carolyn and K.C. Nemutlu, D’Arrigo Racing Stables has demonstrated superb environmental best management practices such as minimizing storm water run-off, establishing controls to reduce soil erosion, maintaining a low stocking density, and meticulous pasture care.

“We decided to apply to the NJ Equine Environmental Stewardship Program because we greatly value our animals and the environment, and we strive to do the best thing for both,” said K.C. Nemutlu. “It’s an honor, and incredibly reassuring, to have the experts at Rutgers and the NJDA validate our efforts by selecting D’Arrigo Racing Stables as the recipient of the Gold Medal Horse Farm award.”

The New Jersey Equine Environmental Stewardship Program and the Gold Medal Horse Farm award are based on several criteria. First, the horse farm must have an Animal Waste Management Plan and/or Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan. Beyond the two plans, awards are determined by water quality, soil erosion, stream and water management, sanitation, and pasture, feed, and manure management. Lastly, overall aesthetics of the farm will be taken into consideration.

“Developing best management practices is crucial to equine environmental sustainability,” said Michael Westendorf, associate extension specialist in Animal Sciences for Rutgers Cooperative Extension, NJAES. “D’Arrigo Racing Stables maintain proper nutrient and manure management plans. They have created the perfect balance between exceptional environmental stewardship and cultivating a picturesque, beautiful farm.”

D’Arrigo Racing Stables joins last year’s recipient, Showplace Farms, as the state’s only Gold Medal Horse Farm award recipients.

“As a training and breeding farm, this award further demonstrates that horse racing preserves open space in New Jersey and that our facilities are excellent stewards of the land,” added K.C. Nemutlu.

Information about the Equine Environmental Stewardship Program and the Gold Medal Horse Farm award is available on the Equine Science Center’s website. To request additional information about the program and/or award, contact Laura Gladney at gladney@aesop.rutgers.edu or 848-932-3229.