by Publicity Office, Pennsylvania Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association

Dayton, PA — The 2017 Pennsylvania fair schedule of harness racing gets underway this weekend at the Dayton Fairgrounds in Armstrong County. Two-year-olds will take to the track at 12 noon on Saturday (June 17) and on Sunday at the same time with a full slate of 3-year-olds racing.

This year the Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes will feature an improved yet simplified purse structure, thanks to the work of the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen Association (PHHA) and the Standardbred Breeders Association of Pennsylvania (SBAPA), with Sam Beegle and Jim Simpson heading the respective associations’ efforts.

The Fair Sire Stakes will be divided into A and B divisions. For the A divisions, the purse will be $7,500 plus the $75 starting fees if there is one division; it will $5,000 plus additional funds if two divisions and $3,750 with added monetary benefits if three or more divisions.

The B Sire Stakes were formed to place emphasis on the homegrown state agricultural project, while the former Quaker State Series allowed eligibility for Pennsylvania-sired or wholly Pennsylvania-owned horses. Sire Stakes events, however, now necessitates the animal being sired by a state stallion.

There will be a purse of $2,500 plus starting fees for each B division.

Only one of the 2-year-olds in Saturday’s races has made a pari-mutuel start, but what a start that was. The horse, Venier Hanover, won a maiden contest at The Meadows in 1:54, following up on a 1:55.2 first charted line qualifier.

Among the 3-year-olds, trotter Gee Wizz George and pacer Marvalous Artist, who set the Dayton colt divisional standards last season, will both be in action Sunday on a 12-race card. Also among the entrants are Camera Lady, who like Venier Hanover is conditioned by Dave Brickell. The filly collected the most triumphs last year of any 2-year-old in North America with 15 wins. Gemalous, who conquered the Camera Lady in the Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes Championship, will also be competing Sunday.

Roger Hammer, as well as Chris and Jason Shaw, who have been major players along the Keystone fair circuit the last several years, will send out a healthy contingent of hopefuls on each day of the Dayton contests.