New rules allowing a mare purchased at public auction to become recognized as a "resident mare" were adopted Oct. 29 by the New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund.
Under the new rules, a resident mare would be a mare that is continuously in residence in New York State from the date of conception in New York or within 120 days after her last cover in the year of conception occurring outside of the state and that remains in New York until foaling the following year, with no breed-back to a New York-based stallion required. Mares that maintain their New York resident status can be covered each season by a stallion located anywhere in the world.
Under the new rules, a non-resident mare that is purchased in foal through public auction will qualify as a resident mare if all of the following conditions are satisfied: (1) the mare is purchased for at least $50,000 in the public auction, (2) the mare is present in New York State within 15 days after the sale is concluded, (3) the foal out of the mare bought at public auction 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.
It is anticipated these new rules will become final upon publication in the State Register of New York on or about Nov. 18 and shall have retroactive effect with regard to eligible mares purchased at public auction sales occurring on or after Nov. 1, 2019.
"These changes will bring the New York Thoroughbred Breeding Program more in line with other states by removing perceived barriers to mares locating here," said John Poklemba, New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund chairman. "Also, by allowing high-priced mares to establish residency by moving to New York after they are purchased at auction, we expect to see even more quality New York-breds following in the hoof prints of grade 1 winners such as Tiz the Law and Simply Ravishing."
"The board can review the threshold price annually at its summer meeting and adjust it up or down as needed to recruit quality mares," said New York State Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund executive director Tracy Egan.
There is an incentive to purchase New York-sired New York-breds pegged to these rule changes. One year after adoption, the Fund and New York Racing Association will begin providing up to $650,000 per year in purse bonuses to owners. The bonus will be $5,000 every time a New York-sired, New York-bred wins at the maiden special weight or allowance level at Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, or Saratoga Race Course.
While the measure adopted by the Breeding Fund's board states that it starts in November 2019, in practice, the new rules would become effective starting with the mixed sales in November 2020 and the foal and breeding seasons of 2021.
