Harness: KYSS to grow to $17 million for 2022

The Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) program has seen steady growth over the past several years but is set to explode for 2022. Beginning next year, the KYSS will have the richest sire stakes finals in all of North America.

Revenues have risen since Kentucky entered the HHR (Historical Horse Racing) era and with the addition of two more venues in the past three years, it became possible to add $11,000,000 to the program in just one year.

One example of the rise in purses is in the KYSS Championship Series at The Red Mile. In that series alone, there will now be four $80,000 eliminations for 2- and 3-year-olds of each sex and gait, with $400,000 finals.

Great care was taken to provide significant increases to all class of horses. For the first, time a 50 percent bonus will be paid to all Kentucky-bred horses racing in the state except for the KYSS races themselves.

For example, the 2020 Futurity had a purse of $440,000 and with the bonus program, all Kentucky-breds in the race would be racing for a purse of $660,000. One hundred percent of the money will be paid into purses; there are no Breeders Awards to fund.

A "Maturity Program" was added for this year. This program will have races for all sexes and gaits of 4-year-olds. Corbin will race one elimination and a final for a total of $420,000 and Oak Grove will have four legs and a final for a total of $1,400,000. Entries must be Kentucky-bred, but that does not require a start in a Sire Stakes race.

The advisory committee put together what has become the premier Sire Stakes program in the country, and horsemen and women are sure to appreciate the added benefits. Many ideas were floated and some of these will come to fruition in the near future. It is clear there is more growth to come, as clientele continues to grow and satellite facilities continue to emerge.

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Kentucky has the simplest regulations of eligibility in the country. A breeder's mare only has to be in the state for 180 days total, with no requirements to be consecutive.

The committee invites breeders who are in town for the sales to find a farm that suits their needs and make arrangements to board mares in Kentucky for at least the eligibility period.

2022 Kentucky Sire Stakes

Championship Series – Red Mile
$80,000 eliminations (4)
$400,000 finals

Commonwealth Series – Red Mile
$30,000 eliminations (4)
$100,000 finals

Commonwealth (B) – Red Mile
$15,000 eliminations (3)
$50,000 finals

KY Proud Series
$1,500 per starter (8)
$50,000 finals

Corbin Late Closers
$25,000 eliminations (2)
$50,000 finals

Corbin Maturity
$35,000 eliminations
$70,000 finals

Oak Grove Late Closers
$25,000 eliminations (2)
$100,000 finals
$25,000 consolations

Oak Grove Maturity Series
$50,000 eliminations (4)
$150,000 finals

Fifty percent KSDF bonus to all KY-Bred eligibles racing at a Kentucky track in a race other than a KYSS race.

--press release (Kentucky Sire Stakes Advisory Committee)--