The combined boards of the British Columbia Standardbred Association and the British Columbia Standardbred Breeders Society -- Harness Racing BC -- voted at the joint October meeting to implement a new program from 2010

, which will give the owner of a mare foaling a BC-bred foal in BC (BC-bred foal as currently defined by the BCSBS) a cash payment of $500 when that foal is registered with Standardbred Canada.

This ground breaking incentive is subject only to industry business development funding continuing to be available and to those owners being members in good standing of Harness Racing BC.

Standardbred Canada members should be aware that in order to register a foal both the mare and stallion must be registered with Standardbred Canada. Harness Racing BC is hopeful that such initiatives will be the first steps in helping to revitalize the breeding industry, recognizing that a viable breeding industry is a vital ingredient to a healthy and sustainable racing industry over the longer term.

Early in the 2009-2010 meet, HRBC is seeing some positive signs for harness racing and the GPEB initiatives to establish both a new Racing Industry Financial Model and Racing Industry Management Model give further reason to be positive about the future. The intention of all concerned is to help strengthen the racing industry in BC through consolidation of key areas, including finance, overall management and marketing and promotion.

While competitive racing and a healthy purse structure may be key factors in driving the economic viability of the industry, it is recognized by horsemen in all capacities and by government at all levels that a healthy and viable breeding industry is a vital factor in the sustainability of a healthy racing industry.

(HRBC)