Proposal to Modify the Process of Certification of Washington-breds

Click to read Certification Proposal

Click to read Frequently Asked Questions, Part 1

If you have additional questions that are not answered below, please
feel free to send them to us at newsletter@washingtonthoroughbred.com

FAQs, Part 2

Will the WTBOA distribute the money for breeders’ and owners’ awards?

A. No. The WTBOA will provide the WHRC with a list of certified Washington-bred foals each year. The WHRC will still be in charge of distributing the breeders’ and owners’ awards.

What will it the cost to certify a foal?

A. The WTBOA has responded to concerns about the cost of certifying by lowering the proposed rate to $25 per foal for members and $50 per foal for non-members.

Will the WTBOA raise the rate for certification?

A. The WTBOA will not raise the fees for certification unrealistically. We are currently discussing options, including not raising them for 10 years or not raising them more than one percent per year. We would appreciate member comment on this issue.

How do our proposed fees compare to fees in other states?

A. The majority of states with breeders’ programs have certification and most charge a fee. Our proposed fees are neither the highest nor the lowest. To compare, California’s fee to certify is $100 for members and $125 for non-members.

Will the WHRC approve the fees charged by the WTBOA?

A. No. The WHRC has been advised by a representative from the attorney general’s office that the commission cannot set fees nor approve fees.

There are rumors of foals being registered as Washington-bred when they are in fact foaled outside Washington. Is this true?

A. The WTBOA currently has no authority to investigate rumors. However, if certification is passed, the WTBOA will investigate foaling premises if there is a complaint.

Why should breeders and owners care if a foal was born in Washington or not?

A. If a foal is registered as Washington-bred, it is automatically eligible for breeders’ and owners’ awards. If it is not in fact a Washington-bred, and is awarded breeders’ and owners’ awards money, it would be taking money out of the total breeders’ awards pool and owners’ awards pool that rightfully belongs to legitimate breeders and owners of Washington-breds.

How would certification stop people from claiming a foal was born in Washington when it was not?

A. We will require signed statements from both the foaling facility and the breeder giving a physical address within Washington state where the foal was born. While this is not a perfect system, it will help to cut down on potential cheating and provide a cross-check of where foals are born. If a certified foal/horse should later be proved ineligible, the WTBOA will inform the WHRC.

Does the WTBOA need certification to stay afloat financially?

A. No. We currently have a proposed budget for the next fiscal year that has a projected positive balance, albeit a small one. However, there will be a cost to the WTBOA for administering the program. There will be expenses for postage, copying, record keeping and possibly for inspections of premises. We project the income for certification will be $15,000 to $20,000 annually. We project expenses will be about $10,000, less if we have volunteer help.

When will certification take effect if passed?

A. We heard objections to the proposed startup date. We understand and are willing to change our proposal to start with foals of 2012 if that is what breeders and owners would prefer.

What would happen if the WTBOA goes out of business?

A. The WHRC would have to make a rule change. However, the WTBOA currently has a balanced budget projected for the next fiscal year which does not include money from certification and feels confident that we will be able to continue to serve our members as long as there is horseracing in Washington.

Does the WTBOA believe that breeders who are not members do not support the industry?

A. No. Everyone involved in breeding supports the industry. Breeders buy feed, pay employees, pay for vanning, buy farms, buy trucks and trailers, pay for training, etc. We believe every breeder is important and every breeder supports the industry financially.

Trainers will want to know if a horse is a certified Washington-bred before they claim a horse. How would they know?

A. There will be a Washington-certified insignia printed in the program similar to the California-certified insignia that currently appears for all certified California-bred foals running in California.

I have heard that the WTBOA does nothing to generate or increase the handle which generates the breeders’ awards. Is this true?

A. No. The WTBOA is responsible for establishing and running the Northwest Race Series, which contributes over $200,000 a year in purse money, thus generating handle as a result of these races.

In addition, everything the WTBOA does, from the magazine to the sales and educational activities, is aimed at aiding existing breeders and owners to develop and grow in their endeavors, as well as developing new breeders and owners, all of which contribute to increased interest and participation in Thoroughbred racing, thereby ultimately contributing to the handle.

What kind of an application will I have to fill out?

A. While the actual application form has not yet been finalized, here is a preliminary version of what it might look like: Prelimary Application (for example only, final form may vary).

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