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Kentucky Quarter Horse Association, Inc.
P.O. Box 85
Eastwood, KY 40018-0085
Info2@kyqha.com
www.kyqha.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kentucky’s Quarter Horse Breeders’ Incentive Fund
Competition Year 2020 Results Announced
Nearly $4.5 million awarded since start of program
(July 15, 2021) – With the total fund showing increases over the last ten consecutive years, the Kentucky Quarter Horse Association’s Breeders’ Incentive Fund (BIF) continues to demonstrate healthy growth for owners of Kentucky-bred American Quarter Horses wherever they may be showing each, and every, year. Growth in the fund and strong market demand for BIF foals that show or race, and are produced here in the Commonwealth, remain a bright spot for the industry. Since inception, nearly $4.5 million has been awarded.
When BIF programs were begun in 2005 for all breeds, there were 671 Kentucky-bred horses shown or raced in events sanctioned by the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA). Due to pandemic restrictions in 2020, the Kentucky-bred Quarter Horses that were potentially eligible for awards dipped to 722 from the fourteen-year previous average of 1,003. However, even with the pandemic year anomaly, the demand for quality Kentucky Quarter Horses remains strong nationally because of the program.
Payouts are based upon points earned in AQHA events. The allocation to American Quarter Horses rose for a tenth consecutive year to a total of $337,306 for 2020 events. As an indicator of the ever-increasing quality of Kentucky-bred Quarter Horses, the total number of AQHA points earned by those horses that went on to start at an AQHA track or to compete at an AQHA show anywhere in the world, was 5,637. The average value of a show point for 2020 was up $35.59 over last year to $89.52, while the average value of a race point was $25.10, reflecting an increase of $10.01 over the previous year.
The aim of Kentucky’s Quarter Horse leaders was not to subsidize producers solely for operating in the Commonwealth, as have some other breeds, but rather to reward the buyers of Kentucky-breds for showing or racing successfully. This structure has incentivized buyers, most of them from other states, to prefer Kentucky-bred Quarter Horses when purchasing their prospects.
Norm Luba, KyQHA BIF Committee Chairman, explained the fundamental reason for the unusually positive impact of the Quarter Horse program:
“Our program has arguably demonstrated the most dramatic successes of all the breed programs written into law in 2005 and it is because of its basic approach. Rather than award the bulk of our funds as prize money or subsidies to existing breeders, the lion’s share of our fund has always been paid directly to all the buyers and exhibitors of our horses, regardless of where they lived, raced or showed. This clearly increases market demand for our product, which has served our industry much better than if we paid the money to predominantly breeders. Breeders breed here, and buyers pay us more, in hopes of earning awards from our BIF. Our economic growth proves that it works.”
In keeping with the established protocol, all data regarding the horses, points earned, award amounts, and other relevant information will be posted on KyQHA’s website for thirty days to allow public review.
The direct link for the show results is available by clicking on:
[BIF 2020 General Show Information]
The direct link for the race results is available by clicking on:
[BIF 2020 General Race Information]
Award winners must have been current members of both the AQHA and KyQHA as of July 1, 2021 in order to be eligible for awards.
Any inaccuracies or suspected improprieties must be reported to the KyQHA within the thirty-day review period. Report all suspected inaccuracies to info2@kyqha.com by end of day on August 15, 2021.
The KyQHA is the only official affiliate of the American Quarter Horse Association in Kentucky. More information about the KyQHA BIF, membership forms, as well as other programs of the KyQHA can be found by visiting the web site at: www.kyqha.com.
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