The Hambletonian Society, which owns and administrates the Breeders Crown series, has announced that it will raise the four two-year-old divisions of the Breeders Crown races to $600,000 each for 2015.

The 12 year-end championship events will be held on Saturday, October 24 at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ont.

Given the Hambletonian Society’s longstanding mission to support and promote the breeding of Standardbred horses, and as a participant in the recent summit to positively address the declining foal crop, an immediate boost to two-year-old purses will benefit breeders, owners and yearling buyers.

“Adding $400,000 to each of the two-year-old divisions will give owners more of a return on their investment this year and also send them to the yearling sales with more to spend,” said Tom Charters, president of the Hambletonian Society.

“This is a first step in what we expect to be a series of coordinated measures that will increase the opportunity for yearling buyers and thus support the foal crop and the long-term health of the entire industry.”

The 12-race US$5.8 million Breeders Crown night at Woodbine will have an early post time of 6:30 p.m. [EDT]. Woodbine Racetrack has hosted more editions of the Breeders Crown than any other venue, having crowned 88 champions at the metropolitan Toronto oval.

(Hambletonian Society)