The Harness Horse Breeders of New York State have announced recent changes in Breeders awards.
The changes, which have been approved by the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund, appear below.
1. Beginning for all foals born in 2014 and earlier, all funds available for breeders awards will be split into 2 equal pools of money. One pool of money will be for performance-based awards with no residency requirements and the other will be for performance-based awards with residency requirements. Resident horses can earn money from both pools.
2. Beginning with mares bred in 2014 to New York registered stallions, breeders awards will only be paid to ‘resident’ mares. Mares must spend at least 180 continuous days in the state in each calendar year they are bred to a NY stallion thereafter, thus becoming ‘resident mares’ for Breeders award purposes. These resident breeders awards will be paid based on a percentage of performance earnings. Residency declaration (2) forms must be filled out each calendar year to retain resident status. The dams of the NY-sired foals of 2015 and subsequent years will have to obtain ‘residency status’ in order for the breeder of record to earn any New York Breeders Awards.
(With files from the Harness Horse Breeders of New York State)