Minimum purse value for black-type races will increase to $50,000

The Society of International Thoroughbred Auctioneers (SITA) wish to remind

horsemen that the minimum purse value for North American black-type races will

increase from $45,000 to $50,000 beginning January 1, 2008.

The increase was first announced in July of 2006 as one of several changes

recommended by the North American representatives of the International

Cataloguing Standards Committee (ICSC) and is designed to maintain the standards

of integrity for black-type in North America.

In order for a stakes race in the United States or Canada to receive black-type in SITA catalogs, it must:

" close at least 72 hours in advance of its running, have an entry fee

paid by the owner, and have a total purse value distributed on the day of

the race equal to or greater than the established minimum

" have all entries be eligible for the purse monies used to determine the

minimum purse value for black-type or listed status

" not have restrictions other than state-bred, non-winners of a

sweepstakes, sales graduates or stallions' progeny

" not contain a preference clause(s) based on criteria unrelated to the

quality of the horse if such preference clause(s) could possibly exclude any

horse(s) of superior quality from competing

SITA and ICSC recommend that racing secretaries and trainers review the above

conditions when writing or entering stakes races that they expect will receive

SITA black-type.