The program is continuing to attract new breeders to Massachusetts 

 despite increased competiton from neighboring states c Breeders of 

 Standardbred horses in the state are to be complimented for their loyalty 

 to our program and their faith in the future of hareness horse racing in 

 Massachusetts c 



This year there were Massachusetts Sire Stakes races for two and 

 three-year old Standardbreds held at eight different fairs with a total 

 of 58 raceSo 



This was the eighth year of our program and its success can be 

 measured in part by the fact that top pedigree stallions have been 

 brought into the state which in turn should add to the genetic wealth of 

 our already much improved Standardbred horse population c 



THOROUGHBRED HORSE PROGRAM 



In the 1977-78 racing season, 1139 Massachusetts bred Thoroughbred 

 horses went postward in races at Suffolk Downs and three agricultural 

 fairSo 



Breeder and stallion owner awards amounting to $93,592,75 were 

 paid to Thoroughbred stallion and more owners throughout the Common- 

 wealth. Massachusetts-bred horses accounted for 113 wins, 154 seconds 

 and 151 thirds, competing in open ra es at pari-mutuel race tracks in 

 Massachusetts . 



Again, MasSc bred horses contributed greatly to filling races in 

 short fields at Suffolk Downs during the 1978 winter meeting, when 

 Suffolk was suffering severly from shortage of competitive horsesc 

 Mass» bred horses accounted for the equivalent of 145 races in this 

 time of short fields c It is estimated that MasSo breds alone created 

 handle money of $5,800,000 and revenue to the state of $552,000 based 

 on the Commonwealth's nine per cent take out of the total handle. 



In the spring of 1978, legislation was implemented to reduce the 

 State's share of the total handle at Suffolk Downs c Purse structure 



I for the horsemen will be improving to a rate hike of about twenty 

 per cent in the coming fiscal year, and breeders' awards will be 



, higher, enabling MasSc horsemen to breed better stock and contribute 



i| to the racing industry and to the Commonwealth. 



Twenty-five Thoroughbred stallions were registered with the 

 Department of Food and Agriculture and 253 mares were reported bred 



