from harness publicists across North America

The March 15 deadline is drawing near for many stakes payments. Below are a list of notices that have been submitted to the USTA Newsroom.

Scioto Early Closers and stall applications due March 16

Columbus, OH — Scioto Downs’ stall applications and early closer nominations are due Monday (March 16).

Stall applications can be found on the Scioto Downs website and can be faxed, e-mailed or mailed.

Nominations for the following early closers are also due on Monday: mini-series for 3-year-old Ohio sired horses that are eligible to all legs of the Ohio Sire Stakes (eliminations to be raced May 15-16 with finals on May 25); Charlie Hill Memorial Trot (to be raced June 6); Jim Ewart Memorial Pace (to be raced Sept. 12); Sam “Chip” Noble III Memorial Trot (to be raced Sept. 12).

The 2015 racing season at Scioto Downs will have 95 race cards, commencing Tuesday (May 5) with a 2 p.m. post time. Live racing will be held every Tuesday through Saturday until Sept. 12. Post time Wednesday through Saturday will be 6:30 p.m., while all Tuesday and holiday cards will start at 2 p.m. For a complete race schedule, visit the Scioto Downs website.

— Jason Roth

Babic Memorial payments are due

Trenton, NJ — An important sustaining payment is due March 16 in order to keep New Jersey-sired 2-year-old pacers eligible to the 2015 Lou Babic Memorial Paces sponsored by the New Jersey Sire Stakes program. The deadline is extended this year because March 15 falls on a Sunday.

Due on March 16 are sustaining payments of $700 for the Babic Pace open and $400 for the Babic filly division. These payments should be mailed to NJSS, P.O. Box 330, Trenton, NJ 08625.

The Babic Open Pace, with an estimated purse of $75,000, and the Babic Filly Pace, with an estimated purse of $50,000, are scheduled for Sept. 26 at Freehold Raceway. Elimination heats, if necessary, are scheduled for Sept. 19 for both open and filly divisions.

— Christopher Castens

WEG nominations and sustaining payments due March 16

Toronto, ON — The deadline for nominations to several Woodbine Entertainment Group and Alliance racetrack stakes events is quickly approaching.

Nominations to the Metro Pace, She’s A Great Lady, William Wellwood, Peaceful Way, Nassagaweya, Eternal Camnation, Canadian Pacing Derby, Maple Leaf Trot, Roses Are Red, Milton and Armbro Flight stakes close Monday (March 16).

Also closing on that date are several spring series events. Nominations are due Monday for the Youthful, Blossom, The Diplomat, Princess, Tie Silk, Celia’s Counsel and Don Mills series.

The Woodbine Entertainment Group also continues to handle the stakes administration duties for all Alliance racetracks.

Nominations to the Balanced Image and Dream Of Glory at Hanover Raceway, the Kin Pace at Clinton Raceway and the City of London at Western Fair District close Monday.

The first sustaining payment to several major stakes events, including the C$1 million Pepsi North America Cup, are also due on March 16.

Sustaining payments are needed Monday for the Fan Hanover, Elegantimage, Goodtimes, Somebeachsomewhere and Casual Breeze. The first sustaining payment to the Confederation Cup at Flamboro Downs and the Battle of Waterloo and Belles at Grand River Raceway are also due.

A sustaining fee is also due on Monday for foals of 2013 to remain eligible to the 2015 Champlain stakes, 2016 Simcoe stakes and the 2016 WEG SBOA stakes.

For full events details and to view the nomination forms, click here.

To make payments online, visit www.woodbineentertainment.com/sbpayments.

— Mark McKelvie

Southern Valley Colt Circuit nominations due

Dover, DE — Nominations for the nine Ohio fairs in the Southern Valley Colt Circuit are due and must be postmarked by Monday (March 16). Nominating fee for all nine fairs across the board is $425 (single fair nominations are $70 per fair) plus a membership fee of $35 which must be paid for all owners.

Remember you can take advantage of the co-operation between the SVCC, the Ohio Colt Racing Association and the Home Talent Colt Stakes — if you stake across the board in the SVCC, you can stake in either (or both) circuits and save 50 percent on the membership to that association. Just fill out their nomination form with the discount on the membership, include a check made out to the appropriate circuit and send to Rod Newhart, Secretary, Southern Valley Colt Circuit, 1700 N. DuPont Hwy., G101, Dover, DE 19901. I will forward these nominations on to the appropriate circuit. Remember, this offer is only valid if you stake across the board in SVCC.

Nomination forms can be found on the OHHA website (www.ohha.com), the Southern Valley website (www.svcolt.org) or on the Southern Valley Colt Circuit Facebook page.

Also, don’t forget to take advantage of the new Ohio Fairs Championship to be raced at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway on Oct. 1. Nomination forms may be found on the OHHA website and these nominations are due into the OHHA by March 16.

— Rod Newhart

March payment deadline for all Hambletonian Society-serviced stakes approaching

Cranbury, NJ — March sustaining and nominating payments for Hambletonian Society stakes events are due Monday (March 16) and per USTA Rule 12 section 4, must be postmarked by midnight on Tuesday (March 17).

The Hambletonian Society services 127 of harness racing’s richest and most prestigious events and provides one-stop shopping for your staking needs. The website www.Hambletonian.org contains all the tools and information necessary to stake your horse yourself.

All forms are available on the website and are PDF fillable. Race conditions, payment forms and much more information are now available online, as well as eligibility lists for races that had a final payment on Feb. 15, 2015.

Please note that there is a separate Breeders Crown 2-year-old future eligibility payment of $500 due March 16 that maintains eligibility for the Breeders Crown 3-year-old events of 2016, hosted by The Meadowlands Racetrack.

For additional information call the Society offices at 609.371.2211.

Listed are the stakes with payments due for all ages due March 16: Delvin Miller Adios (and Adioo Volo filly division); Arden Downs Stakes; Battle of Lake Erie; Breeders Crown, Cane Pace (and Shady Daisy); Carl Erskine Trot 3-year-olds; Centaur Trotting Classic FFA; Circle City 3-year-olds; Cleveland Trotting Classic; Courageous Lady (3-year-old filly pace); Crossroads of America 3-year-old filly trot; Currier & Ives Trot (and Filly Trot); Dan Patch; Dayton Derby 4 and older; Dexter Cup (and Lady Suffolk Trot); The Elevation; Fox Stake; Goldsmith Maid; Governor’s Cup; Hambletonian (and Hambletonian Oaks); Hoosier Stakes; The Horseman; Hoosier Park Pacing Derby FFA; Kentuckiana Stallion Mgt. Filly Pace and Trot (for 2-year-old fillies); Keystone Classics 3-year-olds; Keystone Classics 2-year-olds; Landmark Stakes; Madison County 2-year-olds; Matron Series 3-year-olds; Matron Series 2-year-olds; Meadows Maturity; Messenger Stake (and Lady Maud); Miami Valley Distaff 4 and older mares; Carl Milstein Memorial 3-year-olds; Monument Circle 3-year-olds; Progress Pace; W. N. Reynolds Memorial Stakes; Art Rooney Pace (and Lismore filly division); John Simpson Memorial Colt and Filly Stakes; Three Diamonds; Tompkins-Geers Stake; USS Indianapolis Memorial 3-year-old filly pacers; Valley Victory; Ralph Wilfong 2-year-old colt trot; and Yonkers Trot.

— Moira Fanning

Maryland 2-year-old payments due March 15

Union Bridge, MD — Two-year-old payments (foals of 2013) are due to the Maryland Standardbred Fund and the Maryland Sire Stakes on March 15.

As per regulation we will accept a postmark of Monday (March 16) since the payment date falls on a weekend.

This payment must be made to maintain eligibility.

All staking forms, race dates and stallion pedigrees are now available online. Please use our website for all your current MSRF info and any updates as they become available.

We recommend that all payments be sent by certified mail. Please use the following address for the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund: P.O. Box 540, Union Bridge, MD 21791.

Regulations can be found on our website at www.msrfonline.com or you may call 410.775.0152 (office) or my cell at 240.285.0326.

— Cheri Stambaugh

Delaware, Ohio, payments due March 16

Delaware, OH — Two-year-old sustaining payments for the 71st edition of the Little Brown Jug, the 46th Jugette, the 64th Old Oaken Bucket (3-year-old open trot) and the 65th Buckette (3-year-old filly trot) are due March 16. These payments are for foals of 2013 and will be raced in 2016.

Sustaining payments are also due for the 76th Standardbred 2-year-old colt and filly stakes for foals of 2013 to be raced in 2015.

The $650,000 est. Ohio Breeders Championships require a single $300 nomination payment due March 16, 2014, with no further sustaining payments required.

The Delaware County Fair is pleased to be a part of the Ohio Fair Racing Conference in 2015. The OFRC events are replacing the Delaware Open Series and require either a $75 nomination fee for just the Delaware County Fair or $200 for all the OFRC events. Nominations for the ORFC events must be postmarked by March 16, 2015, and sent directly to the Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association, 850 Michigan Ave. – Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43215.

The five day Delaware Grand Circuit meet opens Sunday, September 20 and will run through Thursday, Sept. 24. This year, all events will be using the 50-25-12-8-5 formula for purse payouts.

“We are looking forward to the 2015 Grand Circuit meet at the Delaware County Fairgrounds,” noted Tom Wright, director of racing for the Little Brown Jug. “We are excited to bring back Monday racing at Delaware and have planned a fun late afternoon program (3:00 p.m. post time) that should appeal to the casual fan and racing enthusiast.”

Make checks payable and send all entries to: The Delaware County Fair, Tom Wright, P.O. Box 1560, Powell, OH 43065.

For the latest news, information and nomination forms, please visit the Little Brown Jug website: www.littlebrownjug.com.

March 16 Sustaining Fees:
Little Brown Jug No. 71 (3-Year Old Open Pace to be raced in 2016) $500
Jugette No. 46 (3-Year Old Filly Pace to be raced in 2016) $400
Old Oaken Bucket No. 64 (3-Year Old Open Trot to be raced in 2016) $300
Buckette No. 65 (3-Year Old Filly Trot to be raced in 2016) $200
Standardbred No. 76 (2-year-old Colt Pace to be raced in 2015) $400
Standardbred No. 76 (2-year-old Colt Trot to be raced in 2015) $400
Standardbred No. 76 (2-year-old Filly Pace to be raced in 2015) $300
Standardbred No. 76 (2-year-old Filly Trot to be raced in 2015) $300

March 16 Nominating Fees:
Ohio Breeders Championships (2- and 3-year-old events to be raced in 2015) $300
Ohio Fair Racing Conference (2- and 3-year-old events to be raced in 2015) $75 or $200

— Jay Wolf

DSBF 2-year-old payments due

Dover, DE — The 2-year-old payments on DSBF eligibles are due to be postmarked by March 15. The amount is $100.

Because the 15th falls on a Sunday a postmark of March 16 is acceptable.

A payment of $40 must have been made on May 15, 2014 in order to be eligible to make the payment. Any eligible 2-year-old who missed the May 2014 nominating payment can make a late payment of $350 along with the normal $100 sustaining fee.

The first race is Monday (Oct. 5) at Harrington. Qualifying time for pacers is 2:10 and trotters is 2:14.

We can accept credit cards.

E-mail Judy.Davis-Wilson@state.de.us for information or call 302.698.4610.

— Judy Davis-Wilson

Nominations for Hackett Memorials due

Lebanon, OH — Owners of Ohio-sired 3-year-old pacers are reminded that nominations for the James K. Hackett Memorial races at Miami Valley Raceway are due March 15.

If eliminations are necessary, they will be contested on Friday (April 17) for fillies and Saturday (April 18) for colts for $8,000 purses. The $30,000 championship finals will be presented seven days later, April 24 and 25, one week prior to the first legs of the Ohio Sires Stakes series for sophomores — also at Miami Valley.

Nomination fee for the Hackett Memorials is $300. Nomination forms can be downloaded at www.miamivalleygaming.com, using the Racing/Horsemens Info tabs.

— Miami Valley Raceway

FSBOA stakes payments due by March 15

Pompano Beach, FL — FSBOA stakes payments are due by March 15 for 2-year-old Florida-breds.

FL Breeders Stake – $100; FL Stallion Stake – $100; Sunshine State Stake – $50 and Melvyn Aylor Memorial – $150.

Since the 15th falls on a Sunday this year, payments postmarked by Monday (March 16) will be accepted.

Sustaining forms and payment schedule are available on our website at www.myfsboa.com or contact Rosie Huff at 954.972.5400.

— Rosie Huff

Meadowlands payments due March 15

East Rutherford, NJ — Please be reminded that sustaining payments for Meadowlands stakes are due by March 15 (March 17 postmark accepted per USTA Rule 12 section 2).

Complete information on all stakes and a list of nominees to the races is available. Questions may be directed to the Racing Office at 201.460.4214.

— Meadowlands Media Relations

Pocono Early Closers deadline is March 15

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Please be advised that sustaining payments for early closing events are due March 15. Those events include the Sun Stakes Saturday races (Earl Beal 3-year-old Open Trot, Ben Franklin FFA Pace, Max C. Hempt Memorial 3-year-old Open Pace and James M. Lynch Memorial 3-year-old Filly Pace); the Super Stakes Saturday races (Battle of the Brandywine 3-year-old Open Pace, Colonial 3-year-old Open Trot and Valley Forge 3-year-old Filly Pace) and all 3-year-old Pennsylvania All-Stars races.

Also due on March 15 will be the initial nominations for the 2-year-old events of the Pennsylvania All-Stars.

Anyone submitting their sustaining payments themselves and not through a staking service can find a Early Closing Sustaining Payment Form on the Horsemen Page at the Mohegan Sun Pocono website.

For further information, please contact the Mohegan Sun Pocono Racing Office at 570.831.2228.

— Mohegan Sun Pocono Racing Office

Tioga/Vernon stakes payment reminder

Nichols, NY — Horsemen are advised that initial payments for early-closing events at Tioga and Vernon Downs are due postmarked no later than Tuesday (March 17). These payments are necessary to establish and/or maintain eligibility to the Empire Breeders Classic, Kindergarten Classic, Crawford Farms, Artiscape, Muscle Hill, Roll With Joe and Miss Versatility events.

Checks should be made payable to Tioga Downs and sent to: Racing Office, c/o Tioga Downs, LLC, 2384 West River Rd., Nichols, NY 13812.

For complete stakes information, follow this link.

— James Witherite, Tioga/Vernon Downs Racing Media

Zweig sustaining payments due March 16

Latham, NY — To remain eligible to the Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial Trot #41 in 2015 the second of three sustaining payments is due.

The 2-year-old continuation fees are also due postmarked by March 16 to keep these horses eligible to race in 2016.

Forms can be found by clicking below:
Zweig #41 – 3 year-old payment form
Zweig #42 – 2-year-old payment form

— Harness Horse Breeders of New York State

Prix D’Ete nomination payment due March 15

Trois-Rivieres, PQ — The Hippodrome 3R management team wants every horse owner and trainer in North America to not miss the March 15 nomination payment for the 2015 C$200,000 Prix D’Ete.

The race is only open to 4-year-old pacers with the top eight money earners in 2015 at time of entry going into the rich final. The race will be held on Sunday (August 23).

There is a big resurgence of major stakes for 4-year-old pacers in 2015 with the new formats for the Confederation Cup at Flamboro Downs and the Graduate Series at the Meadowlands and Tioga Downs. They will take place in May and June. Last year the Prix D’Ete was the richest race in North America for 4-year-old pacers.

To get the nomination form and for the payment schedule, rules and regulations for the Prix D’Ete go to www.quebecjockeyclub.com.

— Quebec Jockey Club

Meadowlands Pace 2-year-old payment due

East Rutherford NJ — Maintaining eligibility for the 2016 Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace requires a 2-year-old sustaining payment made by the March 15 deadline.

On those foals of 2013 that were nominated by the $50 yearling payment last May, the sustaining cost is $400. Supplemental nominations to the race are accepted at the cost of $1,000.

Visit The Meadowlands stakes application page for the necessary form. Questions may be directed to the Stakes Administrator at 201.460.4214.

— Meadowlands Media Relations

OSS 2-year-old sustaining payments due

Toronto, ON — Owners of Ontario Sires Stakes eligible horses are reminded that the deadline for the 2-year-old OSS sustaining payment of $500 ($430 U.S.) is March 15.

Pre-filled forms were mailed mid-February to the corresponding officer listed with Standardbred Canada for each OSS nominated foal of 2013.

For anyone who did not receive a pre-filled form, a blank form is now available for download on the OSS website or by clicking here.

For further information, please contact: Karen Hauver, OSS Administration Coordinator, 519.369.3545, records@ontariosiresstakes.com.

— Karen Hauver

Quaker State Fair races nomination deadline is March 15

Rochester Mills, PA — March 15 is the final date to nominate to the Pennsylvania Quaker State Fair Circuit. Quaker State races are held at 14 fairs throughout the state from June through September.

To be Quaker eligible a horse must be Pennsylvania sired or wholly owned by a Pennsylvania resident at time of nomination.

Entry blanks can be found at www.pafairharness.com.

— Susan Brickell