Development Fund
I. Slots legislation provides for revenue to support the Pennsylvania Standardbred breeding industry
- Slots legislation mandates that 18% of Gross Terminal (slots) Revenues from Pennsylvania Standardbred racetracks be distributed to support the Pennsylvania Standardbred horse racing and breeding industry. Of this amount, 80% is alloted for improvement of overnight purses, 16% goes to the breeders, and 4% will provide for medical and pension benefits for trainers and drivers.
- Pennsylvania Standardbred breeders voluntarily supported legislative provisions that divide this 16% equally between purses for Pa. Sire/Fair Stakes and the Pennsylvania Standardbred Breeders Development Fund.
- Slots legislation mandates that Breeders Awards be established from the 8% of slots revenues distributed to the Breeders Development Fund, to include Pennsylvania Stallion Awards, Pennsylvania Bred Awards, and Pennsylvania Sired and Bred Awards.
II. Initial Operating Principles for the Pennsylvania Standardbred Breeders Fund – passed unanimously by the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission at their April 28, 2005 Meeting at the Hanover Shoe Farms
- Definitions:
- “Breeder” – The owner or lessee of the broodmare, as registered with the U. S. Trotting Association, whose rule reads” “The breeder of a horse, for the purposes of registration, is the owner or lessee of the dam at the time of breeding, and when held under lease, bred on shares or in partnership, only such lease or partnership will be recognized for such purposes which is filed in the offices of the United States Trotting Association.”
- “PA Stallion” – A stud registered for the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes program during the year of conception. (Foals from “dual hemisphere” stallions would be eligible only if conceived in the Pennsylvania breeding season).
- “PA Bred” – A foal whose dam conceived via a Pennsylvania stallion but did not reside in Pennsylvania for 180 contiguous days on either side of foaling.
- “PA Sired and Bred” – A foal whose dam conceived via a Pennsylvania stallion, was born in Pennsylvania, and whose mother (recipient mare if an embryo transfer) resided in Pennsylvania for any 180 contiguous days on either side of foaling. (Emergencies and exceptions, such as illness, orphan foal, etc. will be dealt with by the Commission on a case-to-case basis).
- Operational Policies:
- There will be no nominating fee to make a horse eligible for Breeders awards, but the Breeder must ensure that all of the necessary paperwork is on file with the Harness Racing Commission, which in this and all matters will be the sole and final authority. Forms will be available from the Commission. This paperwork is separate from any Pennsylvania Sire Stakes paperwork.
- Any race at a Pennsylvania track will qualify an eligible horse to generate Breeders Fund awards. (Note: Breeders awards are to be given for horses aged two to five years, inclusive).
- All PA Breeders awards will be based on the amount of money eligible progeny earn in eligible races.
- PA stallion owners will divide 10% of the Breeders Fund money distribution.
- Once in full operational mode (foals of 2006), breeders of “PA Bred” will divide 20%, and breeders of “PA Sired and Bred” will divide 70%. Because full mare residency documentation may not be available at the start of the program, for foals of 2005 and before, interim formulas will be devised; e.g., for Breeders Fund money generated in 2006 and 2007, all horses by a registered PA stallion will earn their breeders a share in 90% of that year’s fund total.
- The amount of money to be distributed for a given year’s racing will be determined by the amount of money generated as specified in the slots bill and divided as specified above. There will be one Breeders Fund check issued per year of racing. A calendar year will be used; e.g. 2007’s Breeders Fund money should be distributed in early 2008.
III: Implications of the Operational Principles for Administration of the Pennsylvania Standardbred Breeders Fund
- Breeders awards will be calculated only at the end of the year, after all races have been completed and all purses distributed.
- Breeders awards will not be calculated for, or related to, purse money earned for any particular race.
- The “PA Bred” and “PA Sired and Bred” Breeders Award pools are separate and mutually exclusionary – earnings by horses within one pool only affect Breeders award distributions within that pool, and have no effect whatsoever on distributions within the other pool.
- Although a relative division of funds has been specified for the “PA Bred” and “PA Sired and Bred” pools, the actual distribution of Breeders award money from each pool will be affected by both the total earnings and the number of eligible horses within that pool.
- Purse money earned by non-Pennsylvania eligible horses in eligible races at Pennsylvania racetracks has no effect on Breeders award distributions.
Download PA Breeders Award Fact Sheet
IV. Breeders Participation in the Pennsylvania Standardbred Breeders Fund
The Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission will require documentation of the following for participation by Breeders in the Pennsylvania Standardbred Breeders Fund:
- Breeders Registration - completion of "Pennsylvania Breeders Fund Breeders Registration Sheet". This form is due June 30 of the year that qualified horses race.
- Declaration of 180 Day Residency - completion of "Declaration of 180 Day Residency Requirement For Mares Whose Foals Are To Be Registered As 'PA Sired And Bred'" form. This form, to be completed by the Breeder, declares which Pennsylvania equine boarding facility will be used to establish the 180 day residency requirement for the broodmare, registering the foal as "PA Sired and Bred". Form is due no later than 30 days after the mare's state residency begins.
- Signature Authorization - completion of "Official Farm-Authorized Signature Sheet, Pennsylvania Breeders Fund". This form designates who may complete the "Official Certificate of Broodmare Residence" forms for Pennsylvania equine boarding facilities (see below).
- Broodmare Residence - completion of "Official Certificate of Broodmare Residence, Pennsylvania Breeders Fund" by a Pennsylvania equine boarding facility to establish that the mare met the 180 day residency requirement for the "PA Sired and Bred" Awards. Form is due by 60 days after fulfilling residency requirement.
- Stallion Registration - completion of "Pennsylvania Breeders Fund / Sire Stakes: Official Stallion Registration Form". This form qualifies the stallion as a PA-Eligible stallion. Form is due February 1 of the year of mating.
V. ALL OFFICIAL PENNSYLVANIA BREEDERS FUND FORMS MAY BE DOWNLOADED BELOW, FOR COMPLETION AND MAILING TO THE PENNSYLVANIA HARNESS RACING COMMISSION
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