The most successful state breeder’s
incentive program of the last 25 years, the Kentucky Quarter Horse Association
Breeders’ Incentive Fund (KyQHA BIF), has released projected payouts resulting
from points earned by eligible horses in shows recognized by the American
Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) during 2009, the most recently completed
competition year. Both the number of winners and also the point values are up
from last year, according to the Association.
“There are more show-horse owners, foal
nominators, and stallion nominators eligible for payments this year from the
BIF Program than ever before,” reported Norm Luba, the BIF Committee Chairman.
“There are nearly 650 eligible winners for 2009, compared to about 450 for 2008
and 153 for 2007,” he said. “In addition, the value of the points has gone up
from an average of $72.33 for all show horses in 2008 to $187.99 per point for
senior show horses and $115.54 per point for junior show horses in 2009.”
Rich Wilcke, KyQHA
President, commented on the numbers by saying, “In 2008, the KyQHA made some
forward-thinking changes to how these funds from the State of Kentucky are
distributed by the KyQHA. We’re
gratified that the several steps we took have led both to significantly higher
point values for 2009 show horse events than for 2008 events and also to a
greater number of horse buyers and exhibitors earning these awards. The upshot is that a vast majority of the
individual owners and nominators of Kentucky-bred American Quarter Horses will
have earned larger incentive checks this year.”
The KyQHA BIF payouts
are based upon show points earned in all recognized AQHA competitions. As of
press time, the racing points for eligible Kentucky-bred Quarter Horses in 2009
had not yet been tabulated or received from the AQHA. Because show points and racing points are
calculated differently by the AQHA, two pools are created – one for show and
one for race. On average, they are virtually the same per each horse.
The list of award
winners can be viewed on the website of the Kentucky Quarter Horse Association
at www.kyqha.com. In keeping with the protocol established over
previous years, information regarding the horses, the points earned, the award
amounts, etc., will remain posted on the KyQHA website for at least thirty days
for public review. There is an automated response mechanism available for
comment and/or corrections.
“An exhaustive
review has been accomplished prior to the posting of these results, and then,
with tens of thousands of additional eyes now reviewing the information while
it is posted on the website, any known or suspected improprieties, as well as
any inaccuracies concerning the calculations, can be reported to the KyQHA
easily and anonymously,” stated Bennie Sargent, AQHA Director and member of the
KyQHA BIF Committee.
Comments can also
be made by calling toll-free (888) 367-5742 and leaving a message on the BIF
Fraud Hotline (option #2). All records
receiving an “inquiry” are highlighted in red on the website so that interested
parties can closely examine them. They
will remain highlighted until follow-up investigations are completed. Payouts will be reported to the Kentucky
Horse Racing Commission after the comment period ends. Any new investigation
that may result as a result of the comment period will not delay payouts for
others.
All award winners
are required to be current year (2010) AQHA and KyQHA members. Any winner who
is not a member will be notified via regular mail and highlighted in yellow on
the web site so that his or her memberships can be updated.
The Kentucky
Quarter Horse Association is the official affiliate of the American Quarter
Horse Association. Additional
information about the KyQHA BIF, membership forms, as well as other programs,
can be found by visiting the web site at: www.kyqha.com.
