Published:
March 17, 2010 04:24 pm EDT
The Board of Directors of Harness Racing BC has approved a significantly improved program to stimulate the growth and development for breeding and racing standardbred racehorses in British Columbia
.
The $1.9 million program includes a significant expansion of the BC Breeders Stakes series which allows breeding to stallions from anywhere in North America as long as the mare is foaled in British Columbia.
In addition to maintaining the BC Bred Broodmare Bonus, bonus programs have been added for registered weanlings and two-year-olds' purse earnings. BC Stallions will be protected by a new Rewards Programs for foals by BC Sires.
Improvements include;
- Effective immediately for the 2010 breeding season (2011 foals), combine the current Stallion Stakes program with an expanded Breeders Stakes (BC-foaled or BC-sired) program.
- Maintain existing Breeders Stakes – two legs and $40,000 final for two-year-olds, two legs and $75,000 final for three-year-olds (separate programs for fillies and colts).
- Transition Stallion Stakes program – two-year-old $30,000 final, three-year-old $75,000 final, four-year-old $22,500 final (separate programs for fillies and colts) – two new Breeders Stakes programs.
- Stallion Stakes programs will continue for all horses currently eligible.
- Effective next fall/winter, expand the current Breeders Stakes program to include eight additional stakes (split for fillies and colts) for $20,000 each, of which four to be designated for non-winners categories.
- Effective September, 2010, $100,000 to be available for 100% bonus payments on BC-bred two-year-olds finishing first, second or third in overnight races. The program may continue into the three-year-old season until the $100,000 is expanded.
- Effective immediately, live foals when registered with Standardbred
Canada will receive a $500 bonus payment. - The current Sales Stakes program – two-year-olds $25,000 final, three-year-olds $25,000 final (separate programs for fillies and colts) will transition to the expanded Breeders Stakes program.
- Sales Stake programs will continue for all horses currently eligible.
- Expand the Broodmare In Foal Program (purchase for re-sale) – additional funds to be available.
- Establish BC Sires Rewards program (to replace Stallion Stakes program in 2013).
- Up to $50,000 available to be funded at 20% of stakes earnings for foals of BC Sires.
- Establish BC Mare Rewards program (to replace Stallion Stakes program in 2013).
- Up to $50,000 available to be funded at 20% of stakes earnings for foals by BC Sires.
- Effective immediately, the following changes will be in effect for the ‘closed’ stake program:
- Starting and declaration fees will be reduced and combined as entry fees.
- All stakes will have a single elimination except the November Breeders Stakes.
- All eliminations will race for $8,000 and finals will have no add-on amounts.
- All eliminations must race as scheduled (no cancellations for less than nine horses).
- BC bred bonus program for owners is revised and transitioned to these various new programs as at April 1, 2010.
(Harness Racing BC)