by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — Balmoral Park and Maywood Park have announced that all Feb. 15 stake nominations have been moved back one month and will now be due on March 15. The stakes affected will include all aged stake events and both track’s 3-year-old events for both open and Illinois conceived and foaled pacers and trotters.

The main reason for the delay in nominations is both tracks hope that a resolution will be reached regarding the impact fee monies currently being held by the courts. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for Feb. 23 and with a favorable outcome the tracks hope is to set the added money at traditional levels. A later decision would have the same effect but the hope of the tracks is that nominators will know with certainty prior to having to make their nominating decisions.

The stakes affected by the delay include the American-National aged stakes for both trotters and pacers, the American-National 3-year-old events for both breeds and gaits, the Windy City Pace, the Galt Stake, all Hanover Stakes for 3-year-olds, the Maywood Pace and Filly Maywood Pace as well as all of the 3-year-old events scheduled for Super Night.

Regardless of the decision of the courts, stake payments will be due for all aged, 3-year-old and 2-year-old stakes on March 15.

Illinois Department of Agriculture to delay Feb. 15 stake payments for 3-year-olds

Springfield, IL— The Illinois Department of Agriculture has decided to delay the Feb. 15 stake payments for 3-year-olds until March 15.

These IDoA races would include the following only:

• Cardinal/Violet
• World Trotting Derby (first payment)
• Hayes Memorial Stakes
• Review Stakes

IDoA is only delaying the stake payments that are due Feb. 15. Payments that are due March 15 have not changed.

If stake payments have been sent to IDoA, the payment will be held until March 15.

Questions concerning these races can be directed to 217.782.4231.

— Sherri Powell