Schenectady, NY — The Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund Board of Trustees has approved $1 million in Breeders Awards for the upcoming 2020 season. In addition, New York Sire Stakes Breeders Awards earned for the 2019 racing season, which also total $1 million, will be mailed to the recipients in the month of January.

The Breeders Awards program provides rewards for each level of NYSS racing: Sire Stakes, Excelsior Series and County Fairs. The awards are residency based, rewarding breeders who keep their mares in New York State for at least 180 days surrounding conception, thereby contributing to the agricultural economy. The program is designed to stimulate New York State’s agriculture sector and support New York farms. Complete guidelines for mare residency and the Breeders Awards program can be found on the New York Sire Stakes website.

Breeders who have not done so already have until Jan. 30 to file their 2019 Mare Residency Form B to finalize their 2019 residency for future Breeders Awards. As a reminder, you can now begin filing Mare Residency Form A for 2020 to start the residency period in 2020.

“We are proud to recognize the breeders who support the state’s harness racing industry by maintaining exceptional broodmares within the state and breeding to New York-registered stallions,” said M. Kelly Young, executive director, Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund. “The demand and quality of New York-bred horses continues to be strong, generating economic and agricultural benefits, and further investment in the state.”