New York Sire Stakes Reminds Horsemen of Payment Schedule for 2009 Season

ALBANY, NY (01/13/2009)(readMedia)-- The New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) officials today remind horsemen to make their payments to be eligible to race in the 2009 NYSS season. The first payments are due February 15 each year with second payments due April 15th each year for the Sire Stakes / State Fair and the County Fair series. The Late Closers Series payments are due each year after the second Sire Stakes series race in each age group.

The 2009 NYSS Payment Schedule is as follows:

Two-Year-Old Payments

Three-Year-Old Payments

Sire Stakes #49:

$200 due February 15, 2009

$350 due April 15, 2009

Sire Stakes #48:

$250 due February 15, 2009

$450 due April 15, 2009

State Fair:

$100 due February 15, 2009

$200 due April 15, 2009

State Fair:

$100 due February 15, 2009

$250 due April 15, 2009 (Fillies)

$350 due April 15, 2009 (Colts)

County Fair:

$25 due February 15, 2009

$75 due April 15, 2009

County Fair:

$25 due February 15, 2009

$75 due April 15, 2009

Late Closers:

$300 July 27, 2009

Late Closers:

$300 June 22, 2009

The 2009 New York Sire Stakes racing season begins in June; however those with eligible horses must make payments prior to the season's start to race.

Checks or money orders must be postmarked by the dates above and made payable to the Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund. Address: 90 State Street, Albany, NY 12207. The NYSS Payment Form is available for download at www.nysirestakes.com, go to the "forms and downloads" page.

For more information, visit www.nysirestakes.com or contact the Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund at 518-436-8713.

The Agriculture and New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund (the Fund) is a public benefit corporation established in 1965 by the Laverne Law (Laws of New York, Chapter 567 of the Laws of 1965). The mission of the Fund is to promote the breeding of standardbred horses and the conduct of equine research within the State. To carry out its legislative mission, the Fund administers the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) Harness Racing Program. Today the NYSS offers approximately $15 million in purses and $1 million in Breeders' Awards, holding races at all of New York State's harness tracks and 22 county fairs, providing unmatched racing and money-earning opportunities for the many horsemen in the Empire State. Additionally, the Fund provides monetary assistance to equine related organizations, including county agriculture societies, the statewide 4-H program and the Harry M. Zweig Fund for Equine Research. For more information about the Fund and its programs visit www.nysirestakes.com.

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