Saddlebred Sweepstakes Nominations and Eligibility on the Rise
Friday, March 9, 2007
Lexington, Ky. – The statistics regarding the American Saddlebred Registry Sweepstakes nominations and continuing eligibility are encouraging, with increases in numbers across the board.
In the Three-Year-Old Sweepstakes, the rise in Yearling nominations was a modest 2.58%. However, Two-Year-Olds continuing eligibility rose 30.67% from 150 in 2006 to 196 in 2007 while Three-Year-Olds continuing eligibility increased by 64 from 71 to 135, up 90.14%.
In the Four-Year-Old Sweepstakes, Three-Year-Old nominations jumped nearly 25% from 125 to 156 within the last year. Four-Year-Olds continuing eligibility made it a clean sweep of increases with a hike of 26.67%.
As reported in the 2007 ASHA Reference Directory, payouts saw increases program-wide as well. The 2006 grand total payout of $172,822 was the most since $223,380 in 1992. The Two-Year-Old Sweepstakes set a new high for a second consecutive year with $39,354 in payouts. The Three-Year-Old Sweepstakes reached its highest total of the past four years up 24% at $87,508. The Four-Year-Old Sweepstakes witnessed the most sizeable increase by distributing 51% more than in the previous year, marking its second highest payout ever and the most in 14 years at $45,959.
The ASR Sweepstakes classes are for two-, three- and four-year-olds in the five-gaited, three-gaited, fine harness and park pleasure divisions. The program is designed to perpetuate the breeding, training and showing of American Saddlebreds. Since its inception, the Sweepstakes program has awarded more than $3.7 million in prize money. Classes are conducted under the rules of the U.S. Equestrian Federation.
General rules and information on the Sweepstakes, including registration forms are available at www.saddlebred.com/prize-sweepstakes or by contacting Patricia Edwards at (859) 259-2742 ext. 320.
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