Apparently, the difference in temperatures is not the only polar opposite between New York and Florida at the moment.

It also extends to their breeding programs.

While Florida breeders and owners are up in arms over Gulfstream Park management’s push for legislative approval to decouple its racing and casino licenses and talk about the future that covers only three more years of racing at their South Florida track, in New York the future is much brighter.

The New York Racing Association recently gave the New York State breeding program a huge boost when it announced it would give New York State-bred overnight races purse parity with open races in 2027. It also said 2-year-olds bred in the Empire State would have purse parity beginning in 2026.

Both moves are intended to enhance the already lucrative New York State breeding program and improve the overall quality of racing when Belmont Park reopens and becomes the lone downstate track in the fall of 2026 or in 2027.

“Based on the amount of racing NYRA and New York State conducts, the New York-bred foal crop is extremely important to NYRA, not only from a racing product perspective but also from the economic impact that it generates for New York State,” said Andrew Offerman, NYRA’s senior vice president of racing and operations. “So, as we looked at where we are heading with opening a new facility, one of the opportunities that presented itself involved the New York-bred program and making sure that we do everything that we can to maximize interest and participation in that program. 

“We are very fortunate to have what we have in New York, and we continue to rely on the state-bred program for our success. It is very important to us. When you look at a new Belmont Park and what it means to the industry, I think it’s a no-brainer.”

State-bred races account for about 25-30% of NYRA’s daily cards, emphasizing the importance of the program. In 2024, NYRA ran 548 New York-bred races worth a total of $42,817,000. The enhancements are expected to add about 15% to that purse total in 2027.

Using last year’s purses as an example, at Saratoga Race Course New York State-bred 2-year-olds will run for a purse of $100,000 in maiden special weight races as 2-year-olds in 2026 (they ran for $90,000 last year) and at any eligible age in 2027.

“We want to do the most we can to promote the breed within the state, and this purse parity is important to signal the importance of the breed to the program and the state,” Offerman said. “I think New York-breds already have a strong purse structure and this only helps it.”

NYRA is also mulling changes to the New York-bred stakes program that could include a winter series for 2-year-olds that extends into their 3-year-old campaigns.

“We are looking at how we can enhance the state-bred stakes program, whether that be through changes to the schedule or adding races at various times throughout the year,” Offerman said. “Especially in the winter. With the new Belmont Park coming, there’s an opportunity to look at the winter with a fresh perspective and an opportunity to look at building a series of races that bridges from the 2-year-old season to the 3-year-old season and allows them to run in significant races.”

As expected, those enhancements and a commitment to a stronger and better future that makes breeding in New York far more enticing were warmly received by those connected to the program.

“The investment NYRA is making is a tremendous boost to the program,” said Najja Thompson, executive director of the New York Thoroughbred Breeders. “I think New York breeders, stallion owners, and all participants in our program are ready to step up and continue in our development. We’ve seen the impact and importance the state breeding program has had on jobs and the economy. It’s only right the moves and investments NYRA is making involves New York-breds. We’re trending positively with our foal crop and we have improved the quality of stallions, and as a result we’ve seen great performances on the racetrack.”

For breeders, the changes will provide not only added revenue but also the security and peace of mind currently missing in Florida, where talk of just three more years of racing leaves breeders wondering if they will be able to run at Gulfstream Park with foals who are conceived this year and will begin racing in 2028 or 2029.

Meanwhile, at a time when the national foal crop for 2024 is expected to have a modest decline, the number of New York-bred foals soared in 2024 by 13.9%. Through Oct. 13, The Jockey Club reported 672 live foals in New York, compared to 590 in 2023.

“It’s all about the certainty of racing we have in New York,” said Becky Thomas, owner of Sequel Stallions, who has a breeding farm in Hudson, N.Y., and a training/raising operation in Florida. “It’s awesome to run for purse parity, especially for those of us invested in the program. The possibility of running in $100,000 maiden races at Saratoga is pretty darn exciting.

“It’s also exciting times with the new track coming. They are looking at some really cool stuff that rewards not just the breeders, but the horse owners and the farm owners. It’s particularly exciting with some uncertainty in the market, especially in Florida and California. I think it’s enticing that we are moving ahead and are ahead of the curve and on our way to having a racing surface that is deemed the most safe as it can be.”

Thomas said two of her clients have already moved three mares from Florida to New York and that she expects more in the coming weeks.

Thomas is also reflective of one of the richest benefits of New York racing. 

At Sequel New York she stands Honest Mischief  , New York’s 2024 leading freshman sire, for a fee of $7,500. The value of that price was magnified Dec. 14 when two $500,000 New York Stallion Series stakes were contested at Aqueduct Racetrack for 2-year-old males and fillies by stallions standing in New York.

Sacrosanct , the undefeated winner of the colt division, and Stone Smuggler , who prevailed in the filly division, were both sired by Honest Mischief and each earned $275,000 for their owners.