The American Saddlebred Registry (ASR) Sweepstakes total payout of over $210,000 in 2008 tops the 15-year high of $199,424 in 2007 and is the most prize money awarded in one year since the Sweepstakes’ all-time high set in 1992. Coupled with its futurities, American Saddlebred Registry prize programs distributed close to half-a-million dollars ($473,744) over the course of approximately three weeks during the Kentucky State Fair (August 17-23) in Louisville and the All American Horse Classic (September 2-6) in Indianapolis.
Photos of all of the Sweepstakes winners, plus results and payout shares awarded in each class, can be found on the American Saddlebred Horse Association website by clicking on "Prize Programs" and then "ASR Sweepstakes" at www.asha.net. To view all of the Futurity winners’ photos, results and payout shares awarded in each class, click on "ASR Futurities."
The Three-Year-Old Sweepstakes’ total purse was $114,856 in 2008, with first-place winners claiming no less than $11,400 in each of its four classes.
The Four-Year-Old Sweepstakes’ total payout this year is the second highest on record at $62,728 and offered total purses of over $15,000 in each of its four classes.
The Two-Year-Old Sweepstakes’ overall payout first eclipsed the $30,000 mark just three years ago and has now offered in excess of $30,000 for a fourth consecutive year.
Between the ASR Futurities and Sweepstakes, owners and nominators collected hefty sums. The top three money winners were Kathy Capsuto Trust with $29,680; Elisabeth Goth, LLC, with $28,629; and, Leatherwood Stud with $17,834. A total of 13 different entrants each earned five-figure payouts of $10,000 or more while 20 other entrants earned at least $5,000 or more.
The grand total payout for the ASR Amateur, Kentucky and National Three-Year-Old Futurities was a combined $262,122.
This year also marked the beginning of the Kentucky Breeders’ Incentive Fund. Kentucky-bred horses that were nominated to compete in the ASR Four-Year-Old Sweepstakes Classes were awarded added prize money—to sweeten the pot even more—from the Kentucky Breeders’ Incentive Fund. The top three highest-placed Kentucky-bred horses in each of the four divisions: five-gaited, three-gaited, fine harness, and park pleasure will receive over $13,000 with 70% awarded to the breeder (must be a Kentucky resident) and 30% to the owner of the stallion (must have been standing in Kentucky at the time of service). The top three money winners are: Joan Hamilton, C. Jean Nalley, and Golden Creek Farms, Inc.