NY Stallion Stakes Purses to Double in 2019

[Wandering Eyes]

The New York Racing Association (NYRA), in conjunction with the New York Thoroughbred Breeders (NYTB) and New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund (The Fund), will initiate a dramatic increase in purse values for the New York Stallion Stakes (NYSSS) in 2019, it was announced Wednesday. In 2019, purses for the 10-race series restricted to the progeny of nominated New York stallions and contested on NYRA racetracks will double from $1,150,000 to $2,300,000. Purses for all 10 races will see increases, with the Great White Way S. for juvenile males and the Fifth Avenue S. for juvenile fillies, to be run at Aqueduct in December 2019, becoming the richest sire stakes races in the country with purses of $500,000 each.

“This purse enhancement is the result of a diligent process with our partners in New York racing and I appreciate the leadership of John Poklemba of The Fund and Jeff Cannizzo from the NYTB to get this over the finish line,” said Martin Panza, NYRA’s Senior Vice President of Racing Operations. “Continuing to find new and innovative ways to incentivize the owners and breeders who fill our races is paramount to the ongoing success of New York racing.”

Jeffrey Cannizzo, Executive Director of the NYTB which administers the NYSSS series, said, “I sincerely want to thank The Fund and NYRA for agreeing to this proposal which dramatically enhances the Stallion Stakes Series and creates the most lucrative sire stakes for 2-year-olds in the country. Directing The Fund’s ‘Purse Enrichment’ to New York-sired horses will, I believe, have both immediate and long-term positive effects on the state’s breeding and racing industries.”

In addition to the purse increase for the juvenile races from $150,000 to $500,000, purses for the other eight races will increase as follows in 2019: The Times Square and Park Avenue divisions for 3-year-olds to be run at Aqueduct will be worth $200,000 (up from $100,000); four turf races for 3-year-olds, which are run in pairs at Belmont and at Saratoga (Spectacular Bid and Cab Calloway for males and Cupecoy’s Joy and Statue of Liberty for fillies) will be worth $150,000 (up from $100,000); a pair of sprints for older horses run at Aqueduct (the Thunder Rumble for males and Staten Island for fillies and mares) will be worth $150,000 (up from $125,000).

Breeders of New York-sired New York-breds and stallion owners will also benefit from the opportunity to earn increased fund awards. New York-sired New York-breds earn 30%, 15% and 15% in “Breeders Awards” for respective first, second and third-place finishes, which is 50% more than the breeders awards for out-of-state-sired New York-breds. “Stallion Owners Awards” are allotted at 10% each for progeny that finish first through third.

“Doubling the purse value of the New York Stallion Stakes Series through The Fund’s ‘Purse Enrichment’ money will benefit owners, breeders and the bloodstock market, starting immediately,” said Cannizzo. “Having an additional $1,150,000 in quality black-type earnings on the table could also have a wide-ranging effect on the landscape of the stallion business in New York. New York-bred juveniles will have a greater built-in added value when they enter the sales ring in the first few months of 2019. My additional hope is that the enhanced NYSSS program will incentivize stallion owners to consider bringing stallions to the state.”

 

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