by Jessica Barnes, director of racing and breed development, the Indiana Horse Racing Commission

Indianapolis, IN — The Indiana Standardbred Breed Development Advisory Committee approved a 25 percent increase to their overall budget for the 2010 Breed Development program.

This increase, estimated at just over $2.7 million, will bring the annual budget to approximately $14 million, and will be included in the Committee’s recommendation to the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. Although, he overall budget will see a 25 percent increase, it has not yet been determined how much of an increase will be realized by each individual program (Bonus Program, Indiana Sires Stakes, etc.). Over the next two months the Committee will hold meetings in order to determine how the budget increase will apply to those individual components of the program.

“The Committee felt it was extremely important to inform program participants of the direction the budget was taking prior to the upcoming yearling sales in Indiana,” stated Michael Christner, Standardbred Breed Development Committee Chairman. “This will allow buyers to know that overall, the program will see increases from 2009.”

This October there are two yearling sales in which Indiana sired yearlings will be featured. The Indiana Standardbred Sales Company will be conducting their sale on October 10 and the Hoosier Classic Sale will be held on October 30 and 31. Both sales will be held at the Indiana State Fairgrounds and sale catalogs are currently available. For additional information regarding these sales, please contact the Indiana Standardbred Sales Company at (765) 759-9900 or the Hoosier Classic Sales Company at (574) 825-4610.

For information on the Standardbred Breed Development Program, please contact the Indiana Horse Racing Commission at (317) 233-3119, or visit the IHRC Web site at www.in.gov/hrc.