Here are some frequently asked questions regarding Pennsylvania’s Breeding Fund Program. For additional information, contact the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association. 610 444-1050 http://www.pabred.com.
Q How does a horse become eligible to participate in this program?
A All registered Pennsylvania-Breds are eligible to participate. Any Thoroughbred foaled in Pennsylvania is automatically a PA-Bred. However, a registered Pennsylvania-Bred is one who is registered with the PHBA.
Q What makes a horse eligible for PA-Bred registration?
A A Thoroughbred foal born in the state of Pennsylvania and registered as such with the Jockey Club is eligible for Pennsylvania-Bred registration with the PHBA if one of the following conditions is met:
• For foals of 2008 and thereafter, the dam of the foal resided continuously in Pennsylvania since October 1 of the year of conception through foaling.
• The dam of the foal was purchased at a public sale after October 1 of the year of conception and brought into Pennsylvania within 14 days of the date of purchase and remained continuously through foaling. During the year of foaling, the foal or its dam spent at least ninety (90) days in the state.
Note: Though it states “in the year of conception” a mare can be bought at auction at any time, be it the in the year she was bred or the year that she is foaling. As long as she is “signed in” to a Pennsylvania foaling farm with in 14 days from going through the ring and foals in Pennsylvania. There is a broodmare domicile form at www.pabred.com that must be filed by the broodmare owner. In other words a mare that was bred to a Kentucky Stallion in 2009 and was purchased at the Keeneland January sale of 2010, and is sent to a Pennsylvania farm to foal, the resulting foal can be registered. The mare and or resulting foal must reside in Pennsylvania for at least 90 days. But not continuously. For instance; The mare foals in Pennsylvania stays for 30 days and then is sent to Kentucky to be bred. She must be returned to Pennsylvania and reside for at least another 60 days. ( hint: send her in Oct and have all of your bases covered for the following year!) Or, once the foal is weaned it can be sent back to Pennsylvania for at least 60 more days.
If the foaling mare was not sent to a Pennsylvania farm and “signed in” by October 1 and was not purchased at public auction the resulting foal can still qualify if;
• The dam of the foal was bred to a stallion standing in Pennsylvania which was registered with the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association as a Pennsylvania stallion during the breeding season of the year of foaling, and said dam of the foal remained in the state for at least the next ninety (90) days after foaling.
Q What is the procedure for registering a PA-Bred?
A Contact the PHBA to request a registration form. You can also download the form at www.pabred.com Fill out the form completely and accurately, including the signature of the breeder of record. Return the form, along with the correct fee, to the PHBA. That’s all there is to it! The registration will remain in effect for the rest of the horse’s life.
Q How much does PA-Bred registration cost?
A PHBA members pay $10 for applications postmarked by 12/31 of the horse’s foaling year; $30 for applications postmarked by 7/31 of the yearling year. Fees for non-PHBA members are $50 and $70, respectively. Registration applications for foals beyond 7/31 of their yearling year are considered Late Application for Registration. Call the PHBA office for appropriate late registration application instructions. Please note, there is a late, non-refundable $500 registration fee with a thirty (30) day mandatory waiting period.
Q Does the location of the sire affect a horse’s status as a registered PA-Bred?
A Unlike some states, Pennsylvania has no “breed-back” requirement or similar rule relating to a covering stallion. However, PA-Breds sired by registered Pennsylvania stallions earn significantly larger bonuses for their breeders (as explained in the next item).
Q How are breeder awards calculated?
A The breeder of a registered PA-Bred receives an award whenever that PA-Bred finishes first, second or third in any pari-mutuel race in the state. For PA-Breds sired by registered Pennsylvania stallions, the award (PA-sired breeder award) amounts to 30 percent of purse share earned. For those sired by out-of-state stallions, the award (non-PA-sired breeder award) is 20 percent. Note: The New York Breeders program only pays 10% to the breeders of horses that are NOT by New York based stallions. In addition horses that run in claiming races of less then $30,000 do not qualify for awards.
Q What about the owner bonus program?
A The Pennsylvania-Bred owner bonus program rewards the owners of PA-Breds finishing first, second and third in designated overnight races at Philadelphia Park and Penn National. Bonuses are a designated percentage of purse share, and are considered part of a horse’s official earnings. Bonuses are deposited directly into owners’ accounts when purses are released. The sum of the bonus and the original purse share provides the basis for breeder and stallion awards earned.
Q When are owner awards paid?
A In pari-mutuel races in the state in which the PA-Bred owner bonus is not offered–i.e., stakes races–a winning PA-Bred generates an owner award amounting to the equivalent of 10 percent of the purse share. Owner awards are paid from the Fund similarly to breeder and stallion awards.
Q Do Pennsylvania-based stallions earn awards also?
A Yes! When a registered PA-Bred, by a registered Pennsylvania stallion, finishes first, second or third in any pari-mutuel race in the state, an amount equal to 10 percent of the purse share earned (stallion award) is paid to whomever owned the stallion at the time of conception.
Q What is the definition of a “registered Pennsylvania stallion”?
A A registered Pennsylvania stallion is a Thoroughbred stallion who stands regularly in Pennsylvania and is registered as a Pennsylvania stallion with the PHBA.
Q How does one register a Pennsylvania stallion?
A PHBA provides applications which should be completed by the stallion’s owner and returned to the PHBA along with the $500 registration fee.
Q Is the stallion then registered for life, or must this process be repeated annually?
A PHBA solicits stallion information via an annual stallion questionnaire which must be completed by the stallion owner. Re-registration is necessary if: [1] The stallion leaves Pennsylvania to stand in another state and subsequently returns; or [2] More than 50 percent of his ownership changes. Registration is effective for the breeding season of the year in which the stallion was registered, and remains valid for life.
Q If a stallion is relocated from Pennsylvania to stand elsewhere, are awards still paid?
A Yes. The stallion owner will be paid awards earned by any registered PA-Breds conceived during the stallion’s effective registration term.
Q How and when are awards paid?
A Breeder, stallion and owner awards are processed monthly by the PHBA. Recipients are notified of their pending award usually within 20 days after the end of the month in which it was earned; payment should be received within another 60 days. PA-Bred owner bonuses are paid at the time of purse release, and are deposited directly into owners’ accounts at the particular track.
Q When ownership of a PA-Bred or a Pennsylvania sire changes, who receives the awards?
A The breeder of record remains the same, no matter who subsequently owns the horse. Thus, the breeder continues to receive any applicable breeder awards. PA-Bred owner bonuses are paid to the horse’s licensed owner at the time the bonus was earned. A stallion owner receives awards earned by eligible PA-Breds conceived during his tenure as owner, and continues to do so if the stallion is sold, and even if the stallion is no longer at stud in Pennsylvania.
Q Can out-of-state residents participate in the Pennsylvania breeding program?
A Yes. There are no residency requirements for owners and/or breeders.