b4breeding

Eureka! (which is actually a settlement not far from here…)

The New Zealand Standardbred Breeders Association deserve a loud round of applause, followed by a clinking of glasses, after the announcement of the new breeders bonus scheme for the Metropolitan Trotting Club.

In a nutshell

The scheme which starts on 1st January 2014, is open to any member of the NZSBA who breeds the winner of a totalisator race at an NZMTC meeting, held at Addington Raceway. They will be eligible for a $500 bonus payment.

So the parameters are clearly stated, and they spread the bonus concept beyond a few elite races or series which require breeders to make eligibility payments.

This is more for the breeders of “ordinary but good” horses who win at the week to week race meetings but may not succeed at the Breeders Crown or Sales Series Final.

Hats off and thrown in the air for the NZMTC for coming to the party on the breeders bonus concept.  This, combined with its recent announcement of stakes increases, puts the club up there with Auckland in terms of leadership when the industry most needs it.

I would dearly love to see a similar scheme in Auckland, or even locally here in Cambridge.

While many breeders aim to sell what they breed, there is a greater number who end up owning and racing what they breed. These sorts of bonuses are ideal for those who breed/own/race and will now have an added incentive to get a horse to the Met.

For those like me who breed to sell, it is lovely to get some reward later if a horse goes on to race well and win. $500 can cover a few bills and a bag or two of carrots for the mare!

I hope the scheme will also result in more people joining the NZSBA – it’s our voice as breeders and deserves our support.