The Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, sponsor of the Delaware Certified Thoroughbred Program, has reduced the program’s combined bonus payments to 40% (20% to the certifier and 20% to the owner).
For the past two years the combined bonus payments were 50%; combined bonuses were 40% prior to that time. The cap on open stake races will remain $15,000 for the maximum amount paid to the owners and the certifiers. The reduction becomes effective at the start of the 2011 Delaware Park racing meet.
“Our Delaware Certified Thoroughbred Program has been a wire-to-wire success story since we started it in 2002,” said Bessie Gruwell, executive director of the horseman’s association, in a release. “In order to fund the continued strong growth of the program, it’s necessary to make this modest reduction in bonuses paid to certifiers and owners.”
There are now more than 2,500 Thoroughbreds enrolled in the program. Owners and certifiers have been paid more than $4.9 million in bonuses to date and contributed more than $25 million to the state’s farming economy.
In order to be eligible for certification, horses must complete a minimum of ninety consecutive days as an approved Delaware farm or training facility.
For information about the Delaware Bred or Certified Program, call (302) 994-2398; email dctp@dtha.com, or visit www.dtha.com to download an application and find a list of participating Delaware farms.