The Virginia Thoroughbred Association (VTA) is announcing two very important changes to the Virginia-Certified Program effective 4/1/2021. These changes will affect all horses currently registered in the Virginia-Certified Program (horses registered prior to 4/1/2021) as well as those that are registered on or after 4/1/2021.
The entrance to 350 acre Byrd Hill Farm in Palmyra. There is plenty of room on site to accommodate more horses in the Virginia-Certified program.
1. As of 4/1/2021, when a registered Virginia-Certified horse wins an eligible race in the Mid-Atlantic region (NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, WV & VA) the Virginia-Certified bonus will be paid to the person or entity that owned the horse when it made its first start, from now on referred to as the “Developer”.
Previously the person or entity that owned the registered Virginia-Certified horse at the time it won an eligible race in the Mid-Atlantic region received the bonus award. Starting 4/1/2021, the “Developer” will receive the bonus award when the registered Virginia-Certified horse wins an eligible race in the Mid-Atlantic region, even if the Developer no longer owns the horse at the time of the win. (As was true in the past, bonuses are not paid for wins in Virginia Restricted races). As a result of this change, if a registered Virginia-Certified horse is sold or claimed, any Virginia-Certified bonus the horse earns on or after 4/1/2021 will be paid to the “Developer” rather than to any subsequent owner of the horse. The “Developer” will receive the bonus regardless of whether the subsequent owner acquired the horse before, on, or after 4/1/2021.
The training track at Virginia-Certified Legacy Farm in Bluemont — located 15 miles north of Upperville
2. As of 4/1/2021, when a registered Virginia-Certified horse wins a restricted West Virginia state-bred race of any kind, the Virginia-Certified bonus will be calculated as 10% of the lesser of (i) the winner’s purse share published on the Equibase chart or (ii) 60% of the published purse on the overnight.
Previously the Virginia-Certified bonus for a win in restricted West Virginia state-bred races of any kind was 25%; starting April 1, 2021 it will be 10%. This reduction affects only Virginia-Certified horses running in restricted West Virginia state-bred races. If a registered Virginia-Certified horse—including a West Virginia state-bred horse–wins an open race in West Virginia, it will continue to earn a 25% Virginia-Certified bonus.
If you have any questions concerning these changes, please contact
Debbie Easter at 434-977-3716 or debbie.easter@easterassociates.com.
