[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19873]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO FIESTA DAY IN LONG ISLAND, NY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSE E. SERRANO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 25, 2003

  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today 
to pay tribute to the Third Annual Fiesta Day at the Hampton Classic 
Horse Show in Long Island, NY, which will take place on August 29, 
2003. This important event is eagerly anticipated by the Latino 
community of Long Island each year. It is a wonderful celebration of 
the noteworthy contributions of the Latino community to the horse 
industry in the United States.
  First held in 2001, Fiesta Day developed after a few thoughtful 
members of the Long Island thoroughbred industry made the effort to 
recognize the dedicated Latino grooms for the thousand-plus horses that 
compete at the classic. After further discussion, it was agreed that a 
broader format for Fiesta Day would be more appropriate for an area of 
Long Island that is showing tremendous growth in its Latino population.
  Mr. Speaker, today Fiesta Day reaches out to the entire Latino 
population of Long Island and offers special educational programs, 
cultural activities including music and horse-related performances from 
several Latin American countries, and special food booths that reflect 
the diversity of Latino cuisine. The Day also includes an on-field 
ceremony to honor leading members of different segments of the Latino 
community--local, regional, and national--with special recognition 
given to one outstanding horseman of Latino descent for his or her 
contributions to the horse industry.
  In addition to the celebratory events of the day, the management of 
the Hampton Classic encourages the event's 75 corporate sponsors to 
staff booths promoting diversity in the workplace and to outline 
employment opportunities for qualified members of the Latino workforce.
  Mr. Speaker, without the thousands of Latinos who work with the 
thoroughbred industry, this multi-million dollar establishment would 
come to an immediate halt. They serve as jockeys, trainers, 
blacksmiths, grooms, exercise riders as well as cooks, vendors and 
suppliers. Often unrecognized, they are the proverbial backbone of this 
industry.
  Fiesta Day is a great opportunity not only to celebrate the 
contributions of these hard working Latino Americans to the horse 
industry but to celebrate the growth of the Latino community in this 
nation. Accordingly, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring 
Fiesta Day.

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