(New Orleans, La.) – The Board of the Directors of the Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association has announced the dates and location for the 2008 Breeders Sales Company of Louisiana, Inc. annual horse sale. The sale is set for September 29-30 and will once again take place at the Ike Hamilton Equine Exposition Center in West Monroe, Louisiana. The 40-acre site is fully climate controlled with 510 stalls all under one roof. The sale will once again be webcast live on the LTBA website at www.louisianabred.com.
Of special interest, beginning this year the sale will be for yearlings only. No mixed session will be held. The entry fee will remain the same ($300) with the minimum commission being increased to $250.
Due to space limitations, the sale will be limited to 450 yearlings which will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. The deadline for entries is July 7, 2008 with consignors’ contracts being mailed June 15.
Interest in accredited Louisiana bred horses is at an all time high. Louisiana racetracks annually generate over $40 million in additional purses with over $12 million reserved for Louisiana-breds and $7.2 million in Breeders Awards. Four Louisiana-bred “Championship” days for nearly $3.5 million are held annually at four different Louisiana racetracks and three restricted state-bred races are offered every day at all four Louisiana tracks. Owner bonuses (purse supplements) in Louisiana offer the most comprehensive incentive awards program in the entire country. The total owner and breeder award payout in 2006 was $20 million with more than $22.6 million being paid out in 2007.
Also new for 2008, in the two sales stakes, the A.L. Erwin Memorial Stakes and the Elge Rasberry Memorial Stakes, purses for horses that were sold in the Breeders Sales Company of Louisiana sale as a yearling will double to $150,000 from the previous amount of $75,000. Non sale horses are eligible to compete for a $50,000 purse in these races.
All accredited Louisiana bred yearlings sold in this sale are eligible for the Bayou State Bonus. This is a $100,000 bonus paid to the owner of any yearling colt or gelding sold in this sale that wins the Louisiana Champions Day Juvenile, the Crescent City Derby and the A.L. “Red” Erwin or the owner of any filly sold in this sale that wins the Louisiana Champions Day Lassie, the Crescent City Oaks and the Elge Rasberry.
About Louisiana Thoroughbred Breeders Association Incentive Program
Three races per day are offered for accredited Louisiana breds at each track each day in Louisiana. Twenty-two percent Breeders’ Awards are paid to accredited Louisiana breds finishing first, second or third in any race in Louisiana. Twenty-two percent Breeders’ Awards are paid to accredited Louisiana breds finishing first, second or third in any stakes race outside of Louisiana. World Wide Breeders Awards are paid to accredited Louisiana breds finishing first, second or third in any race outside of Louisiana.
