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MORE GREAT REASONS TO RACE AND BREED IN PENNSYLVANIA
T
he Pennsylvania breeding program, one of the most lucrative in the country, is now giving owners and breeders even more reason to race and foal in the state. In 2018, several major enhancements to the program will commence: Higher breeder awards in any class of maiden race for Pennsylvaniabreds; protection for the Race Horse Development Fund monies; as well as expanded bonuses for the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby, which will be available to Pennsylvania-bred or Pennsylvania-sired horses that finish in the money in the Grade 1 event. In maiden races, the breeder award for a Pennsylvaniasired, Pennsylvania-bred horse that finishes first, second, or third in any class of maiden race within the state has increased to 50 percent of purse share earned, up from the previous 40 percent, while a non-Pennsylvania-sired horse will get 25 percent, up from the previous 20 percent.
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TRAINERMAGAZINE.COM ISSUE 47
Linda Dougherty Jennifer Poorman
“We wanted to get more money to the breeders,” said Brian Sanfratello, executive secretary of the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association (PHBA). “In addition, since Pennsylvania-breds are an excellent commodity, we thought if we could raise the breeder awards in maiden races they could bring more money at the sales, or be more desirable to be claimed.” Henry “Hank” Nothhaft, a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who has invested heavily in the Pennsylvania breeding and racing programs and is the breeder of Eclipse Awardwinning Pennsylvania-bred sprinter Finest City, gave his thoughts on the additional maiden bonuses. “The increase in maiden bonuses is one of many important steps to make breeding horses in Pennsylvania a viable economic proposition, not just a hobby,” said Nothhaft. Nothhaft pointed out that the financial viability to the breeder is based on the breeder awards earned by the