We here at the Oyster Bay Enterprise Pilot are especially proud that our publisher Angela Anton is supporting the "Horse of a Different Color" program. That is because this area is so truly horse country.

This area was famous for the horse farms that once dotted the landscape. It was hard for the owners to keep the horse farms going with the changing financial developments. The amount of taxes they had to pay was very high; the fact that there needed to be 10 acres to qualify as a farm was another problem. One local horse farm was just under 10 acres and therefore wasn't taxed as a farm. Then there was the press of developers wanting the land to build on and offering a great deal of money that would solve the financial problems of the owners. It was all too much, and many sold out.

We really salute the way Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi decided to promote the horse industry in Nassau County. The Belmont Stakes on June 7, had their largest attendance ever as people hoped the Triple Crown winner would be the New York State horse Funny Cide. He came in third, but the day was a great success.

We think the excitement Mr. Suozzi created was part of the hype that created that success. And Anton Community Newspapers taking part in the project shows that not only do we report on what is going on here, but we support the efforts to make this a more exciting and functioning county by helping to fund the work to renovate Nassau County parks and recreational facilities.

- DFK