Maryland to increase state-sired maiden bonus

by | Sep 1, 2017 | Breaking, Business, Maryland, MD Business

Off on Maryland Million day. Photo by The Racing Biz.

From a Maryland Horse Breeders Association release

Breeding horses that are Maryland-bred and Maryland-sired is about to get a lot more lucrative.

Beginning with the 2017 fall meet at Laurel Park, a 50 percent breeder bonus (the regular 30 percent plus an additional 20 percent) will be paid to breeders of registered Maryland-breds by Maryland stallions who win a maiden race in Maryland.

This additional money will reward those breeders who breed their mares in Maryland and keep those horses in Maryland to break their maiden. The Maryland-bred program offers opportunities for all categories of horses from maidens to stakes horses.

“Anything we can do to encourage breeders is a good investment in the future, and one of the best things we can do as an industry. This Maryland-sired breeder bonus will help a lot of folks,” said Mike Pons, whose family stands stallions at Country Life Farm in Bel Air. “We estimate it will add another $250,000 to the breeders’ bottom lines. It’s one more thing to make breeding, foaling and racing in Maryland more attractive.”

This new maiden winner bonus to breeders of Maryland-bred, Maryland-sired horses is in addition to the current Maryland Million maiden bonus paid to the owner of a Maryland Million-eligible horse that breaks its maiden in Maryland. This incentive offers a chance to get an immediate return on investment at the beginning of a horse’s racing career.

The Fall meet at Laurel Park begins on Friday, September 8, and includes Jim McKay Maryland Million Day, showcasing Maryland-sired horses, on Saturday, October 21.