NY Stallion Stakes Series Purses to Double in 2019

The New York Racing Association, in conjunction with the New York Thoroughbred Breeders and New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund, announced Oct. 31 a dramatic increase in purse values for the New York Stallion Stakes series.

Purses for the 10-race series restricted to the progeny of nominated New York stallions and contested on NYRA racetracks will double in 2019 from $1.15 million to $2.3 million.

Purses for all 10 races will see increases. The Great White Way Stakes for juvenile males and the Fifth Avenue Stakes for juvenile fillies, to be run at Aqueduct Racetrack in December 2019, will become 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."

Funding for the enhanced NYSS purse structure comes from the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund, which distributes "Purse Enrichment" annually.

Cannizzo, the executive director of the NYTB (which administers the NYSS 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."

The purse hike will benefit all participants in the New York breeding and racing programs, starting with the owners of New York-sired horses, who already derive added value from the racing opportunities afforded by the NYSS. Currently, New York-sired horses who finish first through third in open races, and races such as the NYSS, which are not otherwise restricted to New York-breds, earn 20% on top of purse earnings.

Other increases include the Times Square Stakes and Park Avenue Stakes divisions for 3-year-olds of both sexes (at 6 1/2 furlongs) to be run at Aqueduct (from $100,000 to $200,000); four turf races for 3-year-olds run in pairs at Belmont Park and at Saratoga Race Course (from $100,000 to $150,000); and a pair of sprints for older horses run at Aqueduct (from $125,000 to $150,000).

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 breeder's awards for first-, second-, and third-place finishes, which is 50% more than the breeder's awards for out-of-state-sired New York-breds. Stallion owner's 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. Having an additional $1.15 million 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," Cannizzo said