Benefits to Members - our Breeders’ Awards programs
give lucrative financial incentives
for breeding and racing West Virginia bred and/or sired horses.
- The West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund distributes almost $5 million to breeders, owners, and sire owners of accredited WV bred and/or sired horses. Awards are based on ALL of the horse's annual earnings (up to $100,000 of any single purse) at Charles Town and Mountaineer race tracks.
- Supplemental Purse Awards (also known as the 10-10-10 Fund) are quarterly distributions of up to 10% of the winners’ share of the purse to the owner, breeder, and/or sire owner of the accredited WV bred and/or sired winner.
- $800,000 in purse monies are allocated for more than a dozen WV accredited stakes races during the year, including the Robert G. Leavitt Memorial Stakes for 3-year-olds; the Sadie Hawkins Stakes for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up; the Frank Gall Memorial Stakes for 3-year-olds and up; and the West Virginia Futurity for 2-year-olds.
- Three accredited races are written every day at Charles Town and are exclusively for registered West Virginia bred and/or sired horses.
- The WV Breeders Classics held annually on the 2nd Saturday in October pays out almost $1M in purses for WV bred and/or sired horses.
More information on breeders awards:
The West Virginia Thoroughbred Development Fund was established to add a monetary incentive for breeding and racing West Virginia thoroughbred horses. Breeders, owners, and sire owners are awarded a percentage of the WVTDF based on the accredited thoroughbred’s earnings at West Virginia race tracks.
The WV Thoroughbred Development Fund distributions (WV Code 19-23-13b(e)):
60% to Breeders/Raisers
25% to Owners
15% to Sire Owners
In 2019 the WVTDF distributed almost $3 million dollars to participants.
The Supplemental Purse Award program also pays breeders, sire owners, and WV resident owners up to 10% of a winning horse’s earnings for that particular race. Claims must be submitted to the WV Racing Commission within 15 days of the purse being awarded. (WV Code 19-23-13)Please refer to the claim form or contact the WVRC for further information and requirements.
Breeder requirements: WV Code 19-23-13b (h)
(1) The breeder of the West Virginia-bred foal is a West Virginia resident;
(2) The breeder of the West Virginia-bred foal is not a West Virginia resident, but keeps his or her breeding stock in West Virginia year round; or
(3) The breeder of the West Virginia-bred foal is not a West Virginia resident and does not qualify under subdivision (2) of this subsection, but either the sire of the West Virginia-bred foal is a West Virginia stallion, or the mare is covered only by a West Virginia accredited stallion or stallions before December 31 of the calendar year following the birth of that West Virginia-bred foal.
Sire owner requirements: please refer to page 2 of the Stallion Registration Form.
Accredited WV Sire: a sire that is permanently domiciled in West Virginia, stands a full season in West Virginia and is registered with West Virginia Thoroughbred Breeders Association; (WV Code 19-23-3 (25))
WV Resident Mare: a mare that resides year round in West Virginia. Requires to be reported on a resident mare list and residency verified by the WVTDF Inspector. See Resident Mare Form for additional information. (WV Code 19-23-13b)
Non-resident Mare: A mare that does not reside year round in West Virginia. Non-resident mares are required to be inspected by the WVTDF inspector prior to foaling regardless of owner’s residency status. See resident Mare Form for additional information and contact information for WVTDF inspectors.
All foals out of non-resident mares require an Affidavit for Verification of Mare Foaling in West Virginia to be eligible for accreditation.
Visit our FAQs page for more information about qualifications for these programs.