New York-Bred Foals, Starting with Two-Year-Olds in 2026, Run for Equal Overnight Purse Money

Beginning January 1, 2026, New York-bred overnight races for 2-year-olds on the NYRA circuit will offer purse amounts matching the race’s open-company counterpart (estimated 20% purse increase from 2023). This will expand to all New York-bred overnight races starting in 2027. Accordingly, New York-bred foals beginning with the foal crop of 2024 will gain the benefits and financial rewards that will flow from purse parity.

At the 2024 summer meet at Saratoga Race Course, maiden races restricted to New York-bred 2-year-olds feature a purse of $90,000 compared to a purse of $100,000 offered for 2-year-olds competing in an open-company maiden event.

NYRA carded 522 races for New York-Breds in 2023 with purses of $40 Million including 56 New York-Bred stakes totaling $8.9 Million in purses. Out of 522 races, 91 were for 2-year-olds.

The new breeder’s awards rate schedule for New York-breds in 2024 is as follows:

A breeder is the owner of the mare at the time the mare foals in New York State. There are two tiers of breeder’s awards for all races run in New York State: A New York-sired New York-bred is sired by a registered New York Stallion. A non-New York-sired New York-bred is sired by an out-of-state stallion or a non-registered New York stallion.

For questions about the New York breeding awards, contact info@nytbreeders.org.

New York recognizes three categories of mares: resident mares, non-resident mares, and non-resident mares purchased at public auction for $50,000 or more. To qualify for registration as a New York-bred, the mare must foal in New York State and meet the domicile requirements specified by the New York Thoroughbred Breeding & Development Fund.

For questions on the NY-Bred program, contact nybreds@nybreds.com.

New York State Thoroughbred Farm Directory