FTBOA launches $1M Florida Sire Incentives Program, replaces 2-year-old Sire Stakes

The Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ & Owners’ Association announced a $1-million Florida Sire Racing Incentives Program for calendar year 2026, replacing the structured Florida Sire Stakes series for 2-year-olds after the FTBOA failed to secure a venue agreement with Gulfstream Park and the Florida Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association. “The FTBOA did not enter this decision lightly. We had no other choice since repeated attempts to negotiate an agreement with the parties for the last six months went nowhere,” FTBOA CEO Lonny Powell said in the organization’s Feb. 26, 2026 press release.

Under the new incentive program, each Florida Sire Stakes-eligible 2-year-old that wins at Gulfstream Park or Tampa Bay Downs during 2026 in a maiden special weight, allowance, allowance optional claiming, or stakes race will earn a $25,000 racing incentive paid directly by the FTBOA. The payment distribution is $20,000 to the winning owner and $5,000 to the breeder, a structure summarized in Thoroughbred Daily News and Horse Racing Nation coverage of the FTBOA announcement.

Gulfstream Park’s inability to finalize a 2026 agreement with FTBOA and the Florida HBPA left the association without a venue to stage the traditional Florida Sire Stakes series, prompting the switch to incentives. Tampa Bay Downs, by contrast, executed a 2026 agreement with the Tampa Bay HBPA last year that preserved the annual Florida Cup card of Florida-bred stakes in March, and Tampa Bay Downs is included among the two tracks where the new incentives apply.

The Sire Racing Incentives Program is part of a broader FTBOA package for 2026 that also includes a separate Florida-bred export incentives program and fee waivers for most 2026 foal registrations for FTBOA regular members whose names appear as breeder of record. FTBOA said it will launch Florida-bred export incentives dedicating up to $1 million to reward listed breeders of registered Florida-breds that win in selected conditions at out-of-state racetracks, with export payments targeted to the breeder of record for North American wins, excluding Puerto Rico.

Regulatory and legislative context influenced the FTBOA’s planning. The Florida Gaming Control Commission approved an amended awards plan fixing in-state breeder and stallion awards at 15% of gross purses, down from the 20% rate established in 2024, effective Sept. 1, 2025. State legislation redirected $5 million of Florida-bred purses and owner incentives to the racetracks and injected another $2 million through the FTBOA, and the association projects Florida-bred incentives in 2026, including in-state awards, the new export incentives, and open-race owner awards, will total more than $20 million plus millions in Florida-bred race purses. “This initiative shows gratitude to our longtime Florida breeders and demonstrates our commitment to supporting the industry wherever our nationally competitive horses succeed,” Powell said, adding, “We are grateful to the Florida Senate and Gov. DeSantis for their continued support of Florida Thoroughbred breeding. Florida-bred owners and breeders can anticipate unprecedented total awards in 2026.”

FTBOA’s press materials list the organization’s contact information at 801 SW 60th Ave, Ocala, FL 34474; phone 352.629.2160; and the press release date of Feb. 26, 2026. For 2026, Florida-bred owners and breeders will now weigh the guaranteed $25,000 per eligible 2-year-old win at Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs against the loss of a formal Florida Sire Stakes series.