THOROUGHBRED BREEDING PROGRAM 

 Peter Bundy, Supervisor 



The Massachusetts Thoroughbred Breeding program, of the Acts of 1981, con- 

 tinued to expand in the past year. 



The breeder, stalHon and owner awards of twenty five percent, fifteen per- 

 cent, and five percent of purses won by eligible Massachusetts bred Thoroughbred 

 horses amounted to $235,930.24. These incentive awards were garnered by 

 Massachusetts breds racing at Suffolk Downs and four agricultural fairs. At 

 these race tracks, Massachusetts breds went postward 1,162 times, accounting for 

 113 wins, 101 2nds and 143 3rds. 



In the fall of 1982, stakes races restricted to Massachusetts breds were 

 offered at Suffolk Downs for the first time. These races were written for dif- 

 fering age groups and sexes over a varying set of conditions and distances. 

 Each race was run for a gross purse of $22,500. The Breeding Fund contributed 

 $15,000.00 to each purse and Ogden Suffolk Downs Racing Association contributed 

 $7,500.00 for each purse. 



During the past fiscal year, nine stake races for Massachusetts breds were 

 run at Suffolk. Only two of these were non-betting races. The other races were 

 pari-mutuel events, and a total $716,000 was wagered on these races. 



The stakes racing part of the program has been very effective, because 

 horse owners are anxious to purchase young horses that will be eligible for 

 these restricted state bred races. A ready market for good, young horses has 

 been created. 



Thoroughbred mares bred to Massachusetts stallions numbered 226 for the 

 1982 fiscal ye«r, and in 1983, the number reached an all time high of 380. 

 This is an increase of 59 percent over the previous year. The number of 

 Thoroughbred stallions standing in the state, and registered with the Department 

 of Food and Agriculture went from 42 in 1982 to 65 in 1983. This represents an 

 increase of 64 percent, another healthy growth sign in the horse "farming" busi- 

 ness. It is anticipated that this rapid rate growth will continue. 



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