For Immediate Release: Monday, July 29, 2013. Stanton, Del. – The Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association (DTHA), founding sponsor of the Delaware Certified Thoroughbred Program (DCTP), announces that an increase in bonuses will take effect immediately. The DCTP advisory board, led by Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee met on July 10, 2013 and unanimously voted to increase the bonuses to owners and certifiers to 20% each respectively. The increase will also be paid retroactively from the beginning of the meet on May 18, 2013.
The DCTP also congratulates all the local connections of the $300,000 Grade II Delaware Oaks winner, DANCING AFLEET. The 3 year-old filly is a PA-bred and also Delaware Certified. She was raised on Cut N Run Farm in Camden, Delaware by the breeder, Barbara S. Brown, and sold at the Timonium Fasig Tipton sale by co-owner and trainer Tim Ritchey. In 30 days Dancing Afleet went from being a maiden to a graded stakes winner. Breaking her maiden going one mile on June 13, followed by a mile and seventy yard allowance victory on June 24, then winning the Delaware Oaks on July 13, all at Delaware Park.
FREEDOM CHILD romped in the slop to a 13 ¼ length victory in the $200,000 Grade II Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park on May 11, 2013. The Kentucky-bred ridgling was Certified at CandLand Farm in Middletown, Delaware by Herb and Ellen Moelis.
“The Delaware Bred or Certified Thoroughbred Program continues to exceed all our expectations since we created it in 2002. It is a significant financial win for horsemen, our 82 participating Delaware farms, and the preservation of farmland,“ said Bessie Gruwell, executive director of the Delaware Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association. The association estimates the program’s value to the state’s economy is in excess of $1 million annually.
The 2013 meet will run four DCTP stakes races. The Small Wonder for 2-year-old fillies and The First State Dash for 2-year-old Delaware Bred or Certified are restricted five-and-one-half furlongs stake races, each with a purse of $75,000. The Tax Free Shopping Distaff for fillies and mares 3 and up and The New Castle for 3 and up are both $75,000 six-furlong stake races for Delaware Bred or Certified horses. All four stakes have FREE nominations that close on September 2, 2013 and will run on Saturday, September 14, 2013.
The 21st annual Owners Day at Delaware Park will be carded on September 14, 2013. The George Rosenberger Memorial and the DTHA Governor’s Day Stake, The Robert Camac starter memorial, along with many other races being offered. For more information on the Owner’s Day event, go to www.delawarepark.com or refer to your condition book.
In order to be eligible for certification, horses must complete a minimum of ninety (90) consecutive days on an approved DCTP farm or training facility. Certification applications will not be accepted after December 31st of the yearling year.
There are a $$ MILLION reasons to get your young horses to a Delaware farm. For information about the Delaware Bred or Certified Thoroughbred Program, contact (302) 994-2398; email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or visit www.dtha.com and click on the DCTP link to download an application or to find a list of participating Delaware farms. From the website, you can check to see if your horse of racing age is Delaware Certified.
