The program, in keeping Animal Welfare in mind, provides an opportunity to compete in an event with an important purse which is not destined exclusively to 3 year olds, but to horses aged 4 to 8 thus allowing them to mature and grow both physically and on an athletic level. It is also destined to give an opportunity to those who do not have their horses ready for the 3-yearold events to show in other important events. This new program, added on to the 3-year-old Futurity Breeder Program (IRHBA stallions + foals), provides the opportunity of having five Breeder Derbies with important purses.

Following a study regarding the numbers of horses entered in the Futurity and the Derby, it was noted that even though the Futurity purse is very interesting, over the years the numbers have remained relatively stable while there has been a significant increase at the Derby. It was therefore thought that this event should be given more.