by Christine Burling, for the NYSS

Albany, NY — The trustees of the Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund, which administers the New York State Sire Stakes, today announced they have added a Residency Bonus as part of its Breeders’ Awards program.

The Residency Bonus Awards requirements will commence during the 2009 breeding season with the first Residency Bonus Awards paid in 2012 for eligible horses racing as 2-year-olds. As the program rolls out, updates, forms, and notices will be posted on www.nysirestakes.com; breeders and owners are encouraged to check the site regularly.

To be eligible for a Residency Bonus Award, breeders must certify that the mare was a resident in New York State for 180 continuous days during the breeding year at the breeding farm where the mare will be bred to a New York eligible stallion resulting in a New York bred foal. The 180-day requirement must be met within the calendar year. A Residency Bonus will be awarded to breeders whose resident mares’ progeny race in the NYSS as a 2- and/or 3-year-old and finish in positions one through five.

The total Residency Bonus Awards pool will be divided into three separate pools according to level of racing. The Sire Stakes/State Fair residency pool will be 70 percent, the Late Closers will be 20 percent and the County Fairs will be 10 percent of the residency pool. Each separate residency pool amount will be divided by the total number of resident horses who finished in the money for that race season. Breeders of a resident horse will receive a “flat” bonus amount according to race level. Breeders’ Awards will be based on the calendar year (January to December).

Breeders’ Awards Program funds are derived from the State’s harness tracks and Off Track Betting parlors remittances. The Fund receives a percentage of the total betting handle and VLT revenue to administer the NYSS program each year.

The Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund is a public benefit corporation established in 1965 by the Laverne Law (Laws of New York, Chapter 567 of the Laws of 1965). The mission of the Fund is to promote agriculture through the breeding of Standardbred horses and the conduct of equine research within the State. To carry out its legislative mission, the Fund administers the New York Sire Stakes races, State Fair Series races, Late Closers Series events, and County Fair Races.

Additionally, the Fund provides assistance to county agriculture societies and contributes to the statewide 4-H program and to the Harry M. Zweig Fund for Equine Research.

For more information about the Breeders’ Awards Program, visit www.nysirestakes.com and click on “Breeding.”