The Feb. 15 deadline is drawing near for many stakes payments. Below are a list of notices that have recently been submitted to the USTA Newsroom. The following information regarding upcoming stakes payments is not meant to be a complete list of every required stakes payment. It is a list of only those notifications that have been provided directly to the USTA for posting here. For more information on payments, click here.

New York Sire Stakes 2024 eligibility payments due Feb. 15

Albany, NY — The New York Sire Stakes 2024 horse eligibility payments for all 3-year-old colts/geldings and fillies are due Feb. 15. This form needs to be completed and postmarked along with payments by that date. Payments can also be made online here.

All checks should be made out to the Agriculture & NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund and mailed to New York Sire Stakes Program, 230 Washington Avenue Extension, Suite 101, Albany, NY 12203.

If a colt/gelding or filly is only racing in County Fair races, no fee is required, but nominations are due Feb. 15.

Please email NYSS@caphill.com with any questions or to request a fillable version of the above form.

The New York Sire Stakes is the state’s premier harness racing program for 2- and 3-year-old Standardbreds. Established to encourage the breeding, buying and racing of Standardbred horses in New York State, it is the nation’s oldest harness racing program of its kind and has served as a model for state-bred racing programs.

To learn more, visit the New York Sire Stakes website at www.nysirestakes.com.

— Agriculture & NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund

Delaware, Ohio Grand Circuit payments due

Delaware, OH — Sustaining payments for the Little Brown Jug and the other Grand Circuit events — Jugette (3-year-old filly pace), Old Oaken Bucket (3-year-old open trot) and the Buckette (3-year-old filly trot) — are due Feb. 15. These payments are for foals of 2021.

The sustaining payments are as follows: Little Brown Jug ($750), Jugette ($500), Old Oaken Bucket ($500) and Buckette ($400).

Three-year-old pacers not eligible after Feb. 15 may, with a payment of $45,000, supplement to the Little Brown Jug.

The Little Brown Jug and Old Oaken Bucket will be raced Thursday (Sept. 19) and the Jugette and Buckette on Wednesday (Sept. 18). The 2024 Delaware Grand Circuit meet will continue to feature five days of racing — Sunday (Sept. 15) through Thursday (Sept. 19). The Sunday through Tuesday cards will go postward at 1 p.m. The Jugette and Jug cards will start at noon.

For payment forms, please visit www.littlebrownjug.com. Make checks payable and send all entries to: The Delaware County Fair, Tom Wright, P.O. Box 1560, Powell, OH 43065.

— Jay Wolf

Woodbine stakes nominations due Thursday

Milton, ON — Woodbine Entertainment would like to issue a reminder to all owners and trainers of this Thursday’s (Feb. 15) deadline for nominations to its 2024 major stakes at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Nominations close Thursday (Feb. 15) for the following major stakes:

Pepsi North America Cup (3-Year-Old Pace)
Mohawk Million (2-Year-Old Trot – Slot Purchase)
Armbro Flight (Mare Trot)
Canadian Pacing Derby (Open Pace)
Canadian Trotting Classic (3-Year-Old Trot)
Casual Breeze (3-Year-Old Filly Trot)
Elegantimage (3-Year-Old Filly Trot)
Eternal Camnation (2-Year-Old Filly Pace)
Fan Hanover (3-Year-Old Filly Pace)
Goodtimes (3-Year-Old Trot)
Maple Leaf Trot (Open Trot)
Metro Pace (2-Year-Old Pace)
Milton (Mare Pace)
Nassagaweya (2-Year-Old Pace)
Peaceful Way (2-Year-Old Filly Trot)
Roses Are Red (Mare Pace)
She’s A Great Lady (2-Year-Old Filly Pace)
Somebeachsomewhere (3-Year-Old Pace)
William Wellwood Memorial (2-Year-Old Trot)

Nominations close Thursday (Feb. 15) for the following new event:

Tompkins-Geers (2-Year-Old – All Divisions)

The Tompkins-Geers will be held on Thursday (June 27) and Friday (June 28) and is administrated by the Hambletonian Society. For more information, click here.

Nominations close Thursday (Feb. 15) for the following stakes at various Ontario racetracks:

Grand River: Battle of Waterloo (Ontario Sired 2-Year-Old Pace)
Grand River: Battle of the Belles (Ontario Sired 2-Year-Old Filly Pace)
Flamboro: Charles Juravinski Memorial Cup (4-Year-Old Pace)
Hanover: Balanced Image (Ontario Sired 2-Year-Old Trot)
Hanover: Dream Of Glory (Ontario Sired 3-Year-Old Trot)
Clinton: Kin Pace (Ontario Sired 3-Year-Old Filly Pace)

Sustaining payments are due Thursday (Feb. 15) for the following events:

2024 Simcoe Open (3-Year-Old Trot & Pace)
2024 Simcoe Filly (3-Year-Old Filly Trot & Pace)
2024 SBOA Stakes (3-Year-Old Filly, Colt, Pace & Trot)

Stakes Conditions & Payments

To view the full conditions and details for all Woodbine Standardbred stakes, click here.

To make payments online, click here.

If sending payments by mail, envelopes must be clearly postmarked no later than Feb. 15, 2024 or payment will not be accepted. Registered mail is recommended.

— WEG media

Three-year-old DSBF payments due Feb. 15

Dover, DE — Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund 3-year-old payments are due to be postmarked by Feb. 15.

The amount is $300 payable by cash, check, money order, or credit card via the website online portal.

The March 15, 2023, $100 sustaining payment must have been made to be eligible.

For more information call 302.698.4610 or e-mail Judy.Davis-Wilson@delaware.gov.

— Judy Davis-Wilson

Massachusetts stake continuation payments due Feb. 15

Plainville, MA — Owners and trainers of horses eligible to the Massachusetts Sire Stakes should take note that the 2024 continuation payments for all 2- and 3-year-old contenders are due by Thursday (Feb. 15).

The 2-year-old payment is $100 (and must be made in order for the horse to remain eligible as a 3-year-old) and the 3-year-old payment is $150. If there has been a change of name or ownership, please submit a copy of the registration certificate at the same time.

The necessary form for this payment is available for download at sominc.net under the “forms” tab.

— Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts

Maryland staking payments due

Ocean Pines, MD — Sustaining forms and possible payments are due Feb. 15 for the 4- and 5-year-old Open Maryland Sire Stakes for trotters and pacers (foals of 2019 and 2020).

Three-year-old payments (foals of 2021) are due to the Maryland Standardbred Fund and the Maryland Sire Stakes on Feb. 15.

All stallion pedigrees, staking forms, and stake dates are now available online including a printable calendar. Please use our website (www.msrfonline.com) for all your current MSRF info and any updates as they become available.

We recommend that all payments be sent by certified mail or priority mail with tracking. Please remember to check and make sure you use this address for the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund: P.O. Box 1530, Ocean Pines, MD 21811.

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

— Cheri Stambaugh

Meadowlands stakes payments due 

East Rutherford, NJ — As the Feb. 15 payment deadline for all of the Grand Circuit stakes at The Meadowlands draws near, the time for a reminder of their importance is now.

As you peruse the list of Dan Patch Award winning horses from the 2023 stakes season, you get a sense that the road to recognition goes through The Meadowlands.

Those who have experienced the thrill of winning one of the marquee races on Meadowlands Pace or Hambletonian Day know, you make your bones in them. Those stakes are the stallion makers. They are the races that separate the prospects from the suspects.

And for those who have not yet had that thrill, who dream about it, that day looms but only if you take this first step. If they’re not in, they cannot win. And it is a monumentally different feeling. Ask anyone who has done it.

Find all pertinent information on the Meadowlands website. Call 607.972.5500 with any issues.

— Nick Salvi