KYSS to grow to $17 million in 2022

With the goal of becoming the premier Sire Stakes harness racing program in North America, the Kentucky Sire Stakes Advisory Panel voted on Friday, September 23 to recommend major changes across the board to the Kentucky Sires Stakes program for Kentucky Bred horses. 

“The newly announced enhancements to the KYSS Championship Series, Commonwealth Series, Kentucky Proud Series and exciting new programs will establish Kentucky as a leader in the industry.  Made possible by significant growth of purse contributions from historical horse racing at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel and The Red Mile, our existing programs and newly recommended programs will make Kentucky breds a coveted choice at the upcoming Lexington Yearling Sales,” says Bob Brady, Kentucky Harness Association President.

The highlights of the program include:

Championship Series

• 4 Legs ($80,000 each)
• $400K Finals 

Commonwealth Series A

• 4 Legs ($30,000 each)
• $100K Finals 

Kentucky Proud Series 

• $50K Finals
• Purses Increased based on Entries ($1,500/entry)(trailer bonus eliminated)
• Additional New Fair Under Consideration for Hopkinsville (raced at Oak Grove)

New Programs

Oak Grove Early Sires Stakes Program (for 2YO and 3YO Kentucky Breds)

• 2 Legs ($25,000 each)
• $100K Final
• $25,000 Consolation

Oak Grove 4YO Series (All Divisions)

• 4 Legs ($50,000 each)
• $150K Final

Commonwealth Series B

• 3 Legs ($15,000 each)
• $50K Finals 

Oak Grove & Corbin Early Closers & Maturity

• Over $1M allocated for programming at the new Corbin track and Oak Grove (details to be established)

Kentucky Standardbred Development Fund Bonus Program

• Up to $2M allocated for bonus program to all Kentucky Breds in races other than Kentucky Sire Stakes Programs (details to be established by Advisory Panel)

“There is a real buzz in Kentucky about harness racing moving forward.  With Oak Grove requesting 30 racing days in May through July in 2022, up from 20 in 2021, we are positioning ourselves to have one of the best racing circuits in North America.  Horsemen will have the opportunity to now race for significant overnight races and Sire Stakes funded races from May through November.  We are really excited about the major changes to the existing programs and the new programs, particularly the new early season 4YO program for Kentucky breds – Kentucky is becoming the Harness Capital of the World,” says Bob Brady.

At a meeting to be held in October, the Advisory Panel will consider and make recommendations relating to the specific racing details of each program, including but not limited to, movement among programs, elimination of trailers, minimum starts, consolation details, if any, etc.  We welcome any suggestions from the industry for consideration.

From the Kentucky Harness Association