Albany, NY — The New York Sire Stakes today announced a significant increase to the Breeders Award program. The Breeders Awards will now offer a total of $1.31 million to be distributed to eligible breeders for the 2024 season.

The Breeders Awards program, made possible through The Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund, provides rewards for each level of New York Sire Stakes racing: the Sire Stakes, the Excelsior Series and County Fair Races.

The awards are residency based and are available to breeders who breed their mares to New York-registered stallions and keep the mares in New York for at least 180 consecutive days during the calendar year, including conception.

Awards may then be claimed once the mare’s progeny is of racing age, and only if the racing horse places in the one through five position in any New York Sire Stakes, Excelsior Series or County Fair event during their 2- or 3-year-old racing season.

The Breeders Award program is designed to stimulate New York State’s agriculture sector and support New York farms. The single largest Breeders Award earner in the 2023 season was Boston Rocks, bred by Peter Blood and Rick Berks, earning purses totaling $302,862 and a $45,429.30 Breeders Award.

The New York Sire Stakes is the state’s premier harness racing program for 2- and 3-year-old Standardbreds designed to encourage the breeding, buying and racing of Standardbred horses in New York State. It is the nation’s oldest harness racing program of its kind and has served as a model for state-bred racing programs. To learn more, visit the New York Sire Stakes website at www.nysirestakes.com.