Taxing stallions to fund a Slot race? Where’s the connection!

In relation to the harness racing Breeders Crown a stallion’s owner/agent can elect to “opt in” and pay a registration/fee/levy etc. to have his progeny eligible to run in a number of age races, usually over a number of years.

As a result of the stallion owner “opting in” the mare owner can then elect to also “opt in” and pay a registration/fee/levy etc. to have the resultant horse’s eligible to run a number of age races again, usually over a number of years. Additionally if the stallion owner doesn’t elect to “opt in” or if the mare owner doesn’t “opt in” on time etc. additional fees may apply etc. 

It’s a similar situation for state based schemes such as Vicbred, where a stallion and mare owner can “Opt in” for a series of age races, again normally over a number of years.

Again non-aligned race series such as the “Need For Speed” also operates on a similar concept. 

The above are examples of a direct connection between a stallion registration/fee/levy etc and a race or race series. And most (the vast majority), have a “opt in” mare component as well.

Additionally there are many such concept stallion/mare race series, in many other harness jurisdictions throughout the world.

But I ask again where’s the connection between a stallion (whether it’s frozen semen, shuttling or domestically domiciled) and a slot race (or for that matter an Inter dominion race series)?

I get the need for, and like the concept of a marquee race, and would welcome such an event, but lets be innovative in raising revenue for such a race or series, not draconian.

Pat Driscoll

Haras des Trotters / Yabby Dam farms