by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park

Crete, IL — The 2011 stake schedules for both Balmoral and Maywood Park have been released by racing secretary Doc Narotsky.

The action kicks off on Saturday, April 2, with the Taurus Bomber Stake for Illinois conceived and foaled 3-year-old pacing colts.

The first “major” state-bred stake of the season will be contested on Sunday, May 22, with 3-year-old pacing fillies squaring off in the $45,000 Violet Stake. There will also be Violet and Cardinal Stakes for Illinois conceived and foaled pacers and trotters on Sunday, May 29, Wednesday, June 1 and Saturday, June 4 at Balmoral Park.

Maywood’s first big event of the season will be the $100,000 Filly Maywood Pace for 3-year-olds on Friday, June 17. The $100,000 Maywood Pace will take place on the following Friday, June 24.

The first Hanover Stake of the season at Balmoral Park will feature 3-year-old trotting colts on Saturday, July 9. That will kick off a busy week of Hanover action with five other Hanover stakes featuring both 2- and 3-year-old trotters and pacers taking place on Wednesday, July 13 and Saturday, July 16.

The Southland Festival of Racing will provide plenty of state-bred action at Balmoral on Saturday, July 30, Sunday, July 31 and Wednesday, August 3 with pacers and trotters squaring off in the $45,000-$50,000 Mini Me Stake, Loyal Opposition Stake, Big Tom Stake, Incredible Finale Stake, Ann Vonian Stake, Parklane Powerful Stake, Kadabra Stake, Fox Valley Evita Stake, Fox Valley Flan Stake and Plesac Stake.

The prestigious American-National Stakes will start in August with 3-year-old trotting fillies going for $150,000 and 3-year-old trotting colts battling for $180,000 on Saturday, August 27.

Balmoral will also play host to Illinois’ biggest night of racing, Super Night, on Saturday, Sept. 17. As always, the state’s top pacers and trotters will be on display as they battle for more than $1 million in purse money.

A pair of American-National races for 2-year-olds will also take place on Wednesday, Sept. 21 as colt and filly trotters slug it out in a pair of $90,000 events.

October promises to be a busy month for the youngsters as the $100,000 Lady Lincoln Stake for 2-year-old trotting fillies will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 5, with their male counterparts battling for $100,000 in the Lincoln Land Stake on Sunday, Oct. 9, at Balmoral Park. Maywood will also host the $60,000 Cardinal and Violet Stakes for 2-year-old colt and filly pacers on Friday, Oct. 7. A pair of $60,000 Hanover stakes for 2-year-old trotters are also slated for Sunday, Oct. 16, at Balmoral.

Some of North America’s finest pacers and trotters are expected to visit the Chicago circuit in November as Grand Circuit action comes to town. Balmoral Park plays host to the $250,000 American-National 3-year-old colt pace, $200,000 American-National Aged Pace, $175,000 American-National 3-year-old filly pace, $160,000 American-National Aged Trot, $125,000 American-National 2-year-old colt pace and $125,000 American-National 2-year-old filly pace on Saturday, Nov. 12. Maywood will also host its biggest night of the season on Friday, Nov. 18, with the $225,000 Windy City Pace for 3-year-old pacing colts, the $130,000 Abe Lincoln Stake for 2-year-old pacing colts, the $120,00 Galt Trot for 3-year-old trotting colts and the $100,000 Cinderella Stake for 3-year-old pacing fillies sharing the spotlight.