New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc.
Contact: info@nytbreeders.org
(518) 587-0777
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NY Breeders optimistic that Spa momentum will carry into sale
With only the first few days of racing of the 144th meeting at Saratoga Race Course in the books, all signs point to a supremely successful race meet, and New York breeders are feeling optimistic that the momentum will carry over into to the most important dates on their calendar: the two-day New York Bred Preferred Yearling Sale which takes place at the Fasig-Tipton sales pavilion in Saratoga Springs on August 11 and August 12.
The Saratoga race meet is off to a flying start. Opening day attendance, on-track handle, and total handle all posted gains over last year, and patrons have already been treated to several examples of history in the making, highlighted by Ramon Dominguez’s tour de force day on Sunday, when he became only the second jockey in Spa history to win six races on a single card
New York-breds are also already making their own kind of history at the meet, capitalizing on the enhanced Saratoga purse structure by earning meaningful incentive awards from the Breeding & Development Fund for their breeders and owners, and for stallion owners.
On the meet’s first Saturday New York-breds won 6 of the 11 races on the card, headlined by Fiddlers Patriot, who kicked off the day by winning the open $100,000 Willard Straight Stakes. Sired by an out-of-state stallion (Proud Citizen), Fiddlers Patriot earned $9,000 in awards for his breeders and $6,000 in open company owners’ awards. Another winner, Image of Disco by New York sire Disco Rico, took a $67,000 NY-bred entry level allowance, earning $12,060 in breeders’ awards and $4,020 for the stallion owner. Like all New York-breds, once Image of Disco clears his allowance conditions in state-bred races, he will still be eligible to compete in – and earn awards for – the same conditions in open company.
The New York-bred incentive program in combination with the enhanced purse structure is working as its founders envisioned: channeling money derived from the industry itself back to people already invested in New York racing and breeding, who are likely to re-invest any profit back into the breeding industry, which creates and sustains jobs and strengthens local communities throughout the state. Success should also bolster the sale of New York yearlings at the Fasig Tipton sale, which last year posted a dramatic 40% increase in the average price over 2010.
Commenting before the races on Monday, where Saratoga’s feature is the $100,000 Evan Shipman Stakes for New York-breds, New York Thoroughbred Breeders President Barry R. Ostrager said, “The attendance and handle numbers for the first three days of the Saratoga meet couldn’t be more encouraging. The large competitive fields are going to make this the most successful Saratoga meet in history.” Ostrager continued, “This kind of momentum could well translate into record prices at upcoming the New York-bred yearling sale.”
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New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) is a membership organization founded in 1974 in order to provide those individuals involved in the New York breeding and racing industry with an organization dedicated to the advancement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing in New York State. As the official authorized representative of the Thoroughbred breeding industry in New York State, NYTB is the unified voice of Thoroughbred breeders in the State of New York for purposes of communicating the advantages and rewards of breeding Thoroughbreds in the State and for the purposes of conducting and coordinating activities with breeding and racing associations and agencies.
Sarah Mace
Communications Manager
New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc.
57 Phila Street, 2nd Floor
Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Office: 518.587.0777
