Delaware Equine Industry Serves As a Model For Romania
News Date November 07, 2007
Delaware's mutual collaboration and friendship with Romania is on-going. Delaware Agriculture Secretary Michael Scuse and Judy Davis-Wilson, executive director of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund, recently gave a delegation from Romania a personal look at Delaware's state-of-the-art equine industry including show horses, training facilities, and race tracks. Their trip to Delaware resulted from Scuse's and Davis-Wilson's September trip to Romania in response to the Romanian Government's request to have them examine the Romanian racing industry. Romania wants to modernize and improve their industry now that they have become members of the European Union.
The Romanian government has asked the Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) to assist them in the development of a long range plan for their equine industry. The long range plan will include:
* Transfer of state owned farms to private ownership;
* Building a modern racing industry;
* Building horse park facilities for competitions such as jumping, driving, and dressage;
* Developing an agritourism industry around their modernized equine industry.
In the Romanian delegation were Dana Chirca, counselor, market policies in animal husbandry sector of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development; Robert Bartha, president of the National Horse Authority; Dan Ioan Aldea, manager/general director of the National Forestry Authority ROMSILVA; Gheorge Mohanu, director, the Directorate for Breeding, Management, and Improvement of the Equines-National Forestry Authority; and Cristina Flutar, interpreter, National Forestry Authority ROMSILVA.
During their visit, October 19 to 27, the itinerary included the following:
* A tour of the Chesapeake Water Shed.
* Fairhill National Driving Championships in Fairhill, Maryland.
* Delaware Park in Stanton--tour of the racetrack, a live view of Thoroughbred Racing.
* A meeting with Charles B. Lockhart, Vice President of Horse Racing at Dover Downs.
* Dixon Show Stables in Kenton with a demonstration of Western Riding.
* Tour of Margo and Hal Wallace Breeding and Racing Farm featuring Valour Arabians.
* The Bobby Quillen Memorial Dinner at Harrington Raceway.
* Tour of Jack Walls Training Center at Harrington Raceway and the State Fair Grounds where guests presented trophies to the winners of the Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund Finals.
* Tour of Pizzadili's Winery in Felton.
* Tour of Dovington Training Center.
* A trip to Washington, D.C., where guests meet with: Senator Joe Biden's staff, Congressman Michael Castle, and Senator Thomas Carper.
* Tour of the White House and U.S. Capitol Building.
* Meeting at Delaware Technical and Community College--Georgetown, where they met with Terry Johnson, dean, Dr. Valerie Quillen, chair, Veterinary Technology Department, and Jerry Williams, chair, Environmental Training Center.
* Concert by Romania pianists at Delaware Technical and Community College.
* Tour of Winbak Farms in Middletown and Chesapeake City, Maryland, to view the training stable and training, participate in jogging, and see a presentation of Winbak's Stallion.
Scuse said, "This visit to Delaware proved to be both productive and educational for the Romanian's and I am honored that they have chosen Delaware to model their equine industry after. Also, I believe that continued cooperation will promote Delaware-Romanian agricultural trade in the future." (Contact: Anne Fitzgerald, 302/698-4520)