Beginning in January 2027, the prize money on offer for all New York-bred overnight races on the New York Racing Association (NYRA) circuit will equal that which is available to their open-company counterparts, officials at NYRA said on Monday.
As was announced in 2023, beginning in January 2026, all New York-bred overnight races for 2-year-olds will offer equal purse money. In 2024, NYRA staged 548 races restricted to New York-breds for total purses of $42,817,000, and the new program is expected to raise New York-bred overnight purses by 15% versus the 2024 levels.
According to the release, 672 live New York-bred foals have already been reported to The Jockey Club through Oct. 13, an increase of 13.9% when compared to the previous year's figures. The national foal crop is predicted to decline by approximately 2% in 2024.
“The commitment to the New York-bred overnight program builds upon our previous efforts to support high-quality New York-bred racing,” said Andrew Offerman, NYRA's Senior Vice President of Racing and Operations. “Starting in 2026, the New York-bred foal crop will benefit from the financial reward of purse parity and will continue to reap those benefits throughout their racing careers.”
The programs will be offered starting in 2026 at both Saratoga Race Course and Aqueduct Racetrack as well as at the new Belmont Park, which will open in the fall of 2026.
In addition to the lucrative purses offered by NYRA, a variety of owner, breeder and stallion awards are available to those who breed and race in New York. These incentives directly benefit thoroughbred breeding farms across the state.
“Thanks to the quality of New York-breds in the sales ring and at the racetrack, our foal crop numbers have trended positively in recent years,” said Najja Thompson, Executive Director, New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. “NYRA's commitment to investing in the New York-bred program will support continued growth and is a clear statement on why it pays to breed, own, and race in New York.”
The state of New York has adopted rules that expand the reach of the New York-bred awards and benefits by clarifying a pathway for non-resident mares to gain residency status. A non-resident mare purchased in foal through public auction is deemed a resident mare provided (1) that the mare is purchased for at least $50,000 in the public auction; (2) is present in the state of New York within 15 days after a sale in North America and 60 days at any public auction sale abroad; (3) the foal is foaled in New York; and (4) the mare thereafter is continuously in residence in New York from within 120 days after her last cover in the year of conception of another foal and remains in residency until foaling. Click here for additional information.
NYRA and the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund (NYTBDF) proved up to $650,000 annually in bonuses to owners. The bonus awards $5,000 each time a New York-sired, New York-bred wins at the maiden special weight or allowance levels at NYRA tracks.
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