by Tom De Martini

Pennsylvania’s Thoroughbred breeders will have $23-million at their disposal to distribute in 2008 state-bred awards.

The funds come courtesy of expanded gaming revenue at the state’s racetracks and represent a nearly threefold increase from 2006 when breeders shared in $7.8-million for state-bred awards.

“That is not bad for a state that produced about 1,100 foals in 2006,” said Mark McDermott, executive director of the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association. “Pennsylvania-breds can look forward to the most lucrative awards of any state program. In a very short time, Pennsylvania will be second only to Kentucky as the largest Thoroughbred breeding state in the U.S.”

McDermott said approximately 1,550 foals will be dropped in the Keystone State this year, up from 1,350 last year. He delivered his comments at the Pennsylvania Gaming Congress’ Mid-Atlantic Racing Forum on Monday in Harrisburg.

Stallion awards will weigh in at $9-million this year, up from $6.1-million. State-bred stakes purses were set at $3.3-million, up from $2.3-million in ’07. State-bred overnight stakes will pay out $4.6-million with owner awards increased to $6.9-million.

State-bred bonuses between 10% and 30% purses will be paid throughout the year in addition to owner bonuses of 40% at Philadelphia Park, 30% at Penn National, and up to 50% at Presque Isle Downs.

Joe Santanna, president of the Pennsylvania Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association, said horses would compete for between $18-million and $20-million in purses at Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pennsylvania, during its upcoming 100-day meeting.

Hollywood Casino at Penn National should see its purse levels at an average $180,000 per day by year-end with total purses at the Grantville, Pennsylvania, oval weighing in between $36- and $40-million over 204 racing dates.

“Pennsylvania-bred priorities are a must and we also must protect the number of live racing dates we currently run,” Santanna said.

Tom De Martini is a New Jersey-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent