What is the NYSS Breeders Awards Program?
The Breeders Awards Program is an incentive to promote agriculture through the breeding of Standardbred horses in New York State. The Breeders Awards will be given at all levels of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) Racing Program. Breeders Awards reward breeders who keep their mares in New York State, thereby contributing to the New York State economy and agricultural market. The program is designed to stimulate New York State’s agriculture sector and preserve open space through populating the state’s many horse farms.
Who is eligible to receive a Breeders Award?
Eligible recipients of a Breeders Award are individuals or entities who have bred a mare who resided in New York State for at least 180 consecutive days during the breeding year and whose progeny race in at least one New York Sire Stakes program event as a 2- or 3-year-old and finish in positions one through five. The 180-day period must be met within the calendar year and be inclusive of conception. In cases of multiple breeders, only one breeder will be the recipient of the award; the first breeder of record on the horses’ USTA registration will be the initial contact.
Do I have to fill out a special form to be eligible for a Breeders Award?
If you wish to be eligible for a Breeders’ Award, you will be required to fill out a “Residency Declaration/Arrival Form—Form A” and a “Mare Departure/180-Day Declaration of Residency Form—Form B” to certify your mare was a New York State resident for 180 continuous days during the current breeding year. Additionally, if your mare must leave the state for an emergency or if you transfer it to a different facility within New York State, you must fill out and submit the appropriate forms. These forms are available for download on the Fund’s website in the “Forms and Downloads” section.
Mare owners wishing to receive special permissions from the Fund under the provisions for embryo transfer or leave of absence for public auction should contact the Fund as soon as plans for an embryo transfer are made or upon consignment into a public auction, respectively. The mare owner is responsible for getting approval from the Fund before proceeding and submitting forms each time a mare enters and leaves the state.
Is there a timeframe for when the forms are due to the Fund?
Yes, the 180-day residency forms must be filled out completely and accurately and within a specific timeframe; failure to do so may result in automatic disqualification from the program.
The Residency Declaration/Arrival Form—Form A must be mailed or faxed to the Fund with a postmark or fax date within 30 days of arrival. The Mare Departure/180-Day Declaration of Residency Form—Form B must be mailed or faxed to the Fund with a postmark within 30 days of departure. These forms cannot be postdated. If the mare is in the state for more than 180 days, her paperwork should reflect the actual dates of her residency, not just the required number of days. The Resident Broodmare Emergency Leave Form and the Resident Broodmare Emergency Notice of Return Form must be mailed or faxed to the Fund within three days of an emergency leave and return.
I am a New York State resident and my mares are in New York year-round. Is there anything I must do to be eligible for a Breeders Award?
Yes, you must file, annually, with the Fund the Residency Declaration/Arrival Form—Form A when you wish your 180-day residency period to begin. You must also fill out the Mare Departure/180- Day Declaration of Residency Form—Form B to certify that your mare was a resident in New York State for the continuous 180-day period, even if she is in New York year-round. All forms are due to the Fund within 30 days of the start and end of the residency period. Failure to do so may result in disqualification from the Breeders Award program.