Increased purses for all NYSS divisions; '08 schedule available

Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund Executive Director Peter Goold announced on Wednesday the New York State Sire Stakes purses and schedule for 2008. The total purses for 2008 are expected to be $15 million. The season kicks off on June 8 with the 3-year-old filly trot at Saratoga Gaming & Raceway.

The full schedule is listed on www.nysirestakes.com. 2008 NYSS schedule brochures are also available by contacting the Fund.

The NYSS offers a three-tiered racing program: The Sire Stakes and State Fair series; Late Closers series; and County Fair series. The unique program offers money-earning opportunities for horses of all ability levels.

The estimated purses for New York Sire Stakes legs at each track are as follows:

Batavia Downs: Two-Year-Olds $195,000 E; Three-Year-Olds No Events

Buffalo Raceway: Two-Year-Olds No Events; Three-Year-Olds $215,000 E

Monticello Raceway: Two-Year-Olds $205,000 E; Three-Year-Olds $240,000 E

Saratoga Raceway: Two-Year-Olds $220,000 E; Three-Year-Olds $260,000 E

Tioga Downs: Two-Year-Olds $195,000 E; Three-Year-Olds $240,000 E

Vernon Downs: Two-Year-Olds $195,000 E; Three-Year-Olds $240,000 E

Yonkers Raceway: Two-Year-Olds $200,000 E; Three-Year-Olds $240,000 E

These estimates include approximate starting fees. Actual purses may differ depending upon the number of horses entered and the number of divisions required.

The NYSS season culminates with the lucrative $1.4 million "Night of Champions" at Yonkers Raceway on Sept. 13. Each division of the NYSS finals is worth $175,000; there is no starting fee.

The State Fair events will carry estimated purses of $100,000 divided. The State Fair series races will be held at Goshen Historic Track for three-year-olds July 5 & 6 and at Tioga Downs for two-year-olds and three-year-olds August 9, 10, 15, 16, and 17.

Legs of the New York-Bred Late Closers series now race for a guaranteed purse of $10,000 plus starting fees in each division. This is an 11% increase from last year’s purses. Late Closers finals are $25,000 in each division. Sire Stakes eligible horses can enter the Late Closers series. Three-year-olds must be a non-winner of $20,000 lifetime and two-year-olds must be a non-winner of $7,500. The earnings cutoff and nomination deadlines are June 30 for three-year-olds and August 4 for two-year-olds.

Purses at the 22 New York County Fairs that have harness racing also increased this year by approximately $1200. Estimated purses are $5,000 for two-year-olds and $5,500 for three-year-olds. Each division of the County Fair Finals has been increased by $500 for a purse of $8000 in each division for 2008.

The Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund (the 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 races, Late Closers Series events, and County Fair Series 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. (Agriculture & NY State Horse Breeding Fund)

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