Fairs and Wildcat Series to take a hit in '09.
11/5/08 by Aaron Young and Terry Cullipher

    Thinking of buying a Kentucky Sire Stakes or Fair horse?  Think again. You
    might be better off racing in overnights at Thunder Ridge.

    The fair program will not get $150,000 in funding from the Kentucky
    Department of Agriculture in 2009. That sum reduces the fair budget by sixty
    percent. This issue and others will be discussed at the upcoming KHHA
    meeting on November 10. I wonder how the keeper of the keys will explain
    how he lost that one.

    So, if there is no money at the fairs, maybe you’re thinking you may stake to  
    the Wildcat Series. Think again. There will not be a Wildcat Series in 2009. It
    was axed by the breeders that were invited to the meeting last Wednesday.

    The lack of entries into the Wildcat Series during its first two years of
    existence may be the reason for its demise. It is unfortunate that the sponsor
    (Kentucky Standardbred Development Fund / Kentucky Breeders' Incentive
    Fund) is planning to end the program before it has been given a chance to
    mature and draw more interest -- especially when it has such promise to
    benefit Kentucky horsemen and the Kentucky Sires Stakes is gaining greater
    attention with over $3.5 million in purses last year.

    There is a formula to keep the Wildcat Series alive and help the fairs. What's
    lacking is the effort. But with the “What have the fairs done for us lately”
    attitude of the Kentucky breeders, it does not look promising. Now I ask, does
    that sound like people who are worried about racing in Kentucky? Not hardly.
    (There is more to worry about than selling a high-priced yearling.)

    The boost in the sire stakes may help to draw more stallions and mares to
    Kentucky. But, with the low number of stallions in Kentucky in recent years,
    there have not been enough lower market breeding opportunities available in
    the state.

    This has forced the smaller breeders and BUYERS to look for value in states
    such as Indiana. These are the types of horses that can make the Wildcat
    Series a success.

    However, the breeders should also be held responsible and to some extent.
    Their hands aren't as clean as they may want everyone to believe. The
    breeders of Kentucky should help the Fair program and should not allow the
    Wildcat Series to end. They should know that not all horses are sire stakes
    material and be looking for more racing opportunities for Kentucky sired
    horses.  

    We need more late closers for Kentucky sired horses and races designated for
    older state sired horses.  It may take time, but to have a successful state
    breeding program, the offspring must be successful on the racetrack.

    In short, if you're involved in Kentucky harness racing and still believe the
    leaders or breeders are looking out for the best interests of racing in
    Kentucky, you need to wake up --- you've been asleep for way too long.