At yesterday’s meeting of the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission, Chairman Roy Wilt and Commissioner Richard Welsh voted to implement recommendations on the Pennsylvania State Standardbred Breeders Development Fund that had been put forth last month by

the state’s Standardbred Breeders Advisory Committee.

Both of the changes will take effect for the 2011 racing season, which will distribute its rewards early in 2012:

1. The category of payment to “PA-sired” horses, horses fathered by a local stallion but whose mother did not complete the program’s residency requirements, will be discontinued for all ages of horses. These monies are to be awarded in races for Pennsylvania-sired two and three-year-olds.

2. The category of payment to “PA-sired and bred” horses, whose dams did stay the 180 days in Pennsylvania and foal here, will be discontinued for five-year-olds.

These changes will not affect the awards of horses who raced or are racing currently, nor will the payments earned by any horse racing in 2010 be lowered.

These changes were made to further strengthen the Pennsylvania harness racing breeding industry, reenforcing the contribution made by the sulky sport to the state agri-economy.

(Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission)