Galiana, here winning the Skipat, won two stakes at Delaware Park this meet. Photo by Laurie Asseo.
Horse participating in the Delaware certified program — Delaware’s equivalent of the more common state-bred programs — earned nearly $1 million in bonuses in 2015, the Delaware Certified Thoroughbred Program (DCTP) announced.
Overall, the 709 Del-certified starters at Delaware Park during the recently concluded meet posted 97 wins, 106 seconds, and 115 thirds, and earned $940,750 in bonuses. Of those, $497,000 went to the certifier of the horse — typically, the owner at the time it receives the certification — with $443,750 going to current owners.
The program paid 50 percent bonuses during the meet, which ended October 17, with 25 percent to the owner and 25 percent to the certifier. For example, if a Delaware-certified horse earned $20,000 for winning a race, the DCTP would pay the horse’s certifier $5,000 and its owner an additional $5,000.
Delaware Park also hosted its annual Owners Day on September 12, which included four stakes races restricted to Delaware-bred or -certified horses. Winners included Jake N Elwood, in the New Castle; Galiana in the Tax Free Shopping Distaff; Lookout Sister in the Small Wonder; and Onepointtwentyone in the First State Dash.
For Galiana, winner of the champion Delaware certified horse of the 2014 meet as well as leading older filly or mare, it marked her third straight win in the Tax Free Shopping Distaff and sixth in stakes company at the Stanton, DE oval.
In addition, following a meeting with Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee on October 27, the DCTP advisory committee voted to continue the program bonuses at the same 50 percent for the 2016 meet at Delaware Park.
For more information on the Delaware certified program, visit the DCTP website or call program administrator Vince Moscarelli at 302-994-2398.
