from the USTA Communications Department

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.

Hill, Ewart, Noble Memorial nominations due March 15

Columbus, OH — Scioto Downs will once again host three memorial races in 2016.

The Charlie Hill Memorial Trot is scheduled for Saturday (June 11) with a purse of $200,000. The Charlie Hill Memorial Trot is for 4-year-old and up trotters with the highest lifetime earnings that enter. One payment of $500 must be postmarked by Tuesday (March 15).

The Jim Ewart Memorial Pace and the Sam “Chip” Noble III Memorial Trot are slated for closing night, Saturday (Sept. 10). The Jim Ewart Memorial will be for stallions and geldings 4-years-old and up that have the highest lifetime earnings that enter. The estimated purse for the Ewart Memorial will be $225,000. The payment for the Ewart Memorial will be $500 and must be postmarked by March 15.

The Sam “Chip” Noble III Memorial Trot will be for horses that are 4-years-old and up with the highest lifetime money that enter the race. The purse for the Noble Memorial will be an estimated $100,000. Payments of $250 must be postmarked by March 15.

— Jason Roth

Delaware (OH) payments due March 15

Delaware, OH — Two-year-old sustaining payments for the 72nd edition of the Little Brown Jug, the 47th Jugette, the 65th Old Oaken Bucket (3-year-old open trot) and the 66th Buckette (3-year-old filly trot) are due March 15. These payments are for foals of 2014 and will be raced in 2017.

Sustaining payments are also due for the 77th Standardbred 2-year-old colt and filly stakes for foals of 2014 to be raced in 2016.

The $750,000 (est.) Ohio Breeders Championships require a single $300 nomination payment due March 15, with no further sustaining payments required.

The Delaware County Fair is pleased to be a part of the Ohio Fair Racing Conference in 2016. The OFRC events require either a $75 nomination fee for just the Delaware County Fair or $330 for all the OFRC events. Nominations for the ORFC events must be postmarked by March 15 and sent directly to the Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association, 850 Michigan Ave., Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43215.

The five-day Delaware Grand Circuit meet opens Sunday (Sept. 18) and will run through Thursday (Sept. 22).

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 at www.littlebrownjug.com.

— Jay Wolf

Maryland 2-year-old payments due March 15

Union Bridge, MD — Two-year-old payments (foals of 2014) are due to the Maryland Standardbred Fund and the Maryland Sire Stakes on March 15.

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

Red Mile stakes payments due March 15

Lexington, KY — The Red Mile is proud to host another Grand Circuit meet in 2016 and would like to remind all horsemen about the upcoming payments due on March 15. We are excited to provide an excellent platform for the best and brightest horses in the business to showcase their talents over the revered red clay in beautiful Lexington, Ky.

For 2-year-olds, the nominating payment structure is: For races in 2017: Kentucky Futurity and Tattersalls Pace-$500; Kentucky Filly Futurity and Glen Garnsey-$300. Horses not nominated to these events as yearlings can make supplemental payments of $1,000 for the open stakes and $500 for the filly stakes. For races in 2016: International Stallion Stakes-$300; Bluegrass Series-$350. Currently ineligible 2-year-olds can make a supplemental payment of $1,000 for the International Stallion Stakes and $550 for the Bluegrass Series by March 15.

For 3-year-olds, the sustaining payment structure is: Kentucky Futurity and Tattersalls Pace-$1,500; Kentucky Filly Futurity and Glen Garnsey-$750; Bluegrass Series-$750.

There are also nominating payments for 3-year-olds: Nadia Lobell (Filly Pace)-$1,500; Moni Maker (Filly Trot)-$1,500. The $175,000 Nadia Lobell (Aug. 27) and $175,000 Moni Maker (Aug. 13) will be raced at The Meadows.

For older horses, the nominating payment structure is: Allerage Open Trot and Pace-$1,500; Allerage Mare Trot and Pace-$1,000.

Complete conditions for all Red Mile stakes are available in the USTA Stakes Guide. Checks are made payable to The Red Mile, 1101 Winbak Way, Lexington, KY 40504.

— Jay Hochstetler

DSBF March 15 payments due

Dover, DE — A $100 sustaining payment is due for DSBF eligible 2-year-olds who made the May 15, 2015 nomination payment of $40.

A 2-year-old who was not nominated can pay a supplement fee of $350, along with the March 15 $100 sustaining fee and a copy of the USTA registration papers.

It is strongly suggested to use mail with a tracking number, UPS, or Federal Express. All payments must be postmarked by March 15.

Second sustaining payments are due by May 15 in the amount of $200.

For forms and information call 302.698.4610 or e-mail Judy.Davis-Wilson@state.de.us or visit the website at www.desbf.com.

— Judy Davis-Wilson

WEG stakes nominations and sustaining payments due March 15

Toronto, ON — Nominations to several major Woodbine Entertainment Group stakes and a round of sustaining payments are both due Tuesday (March 15).

Nominations close Tuesday for the Metro Pace, Canadian Pacing Derby, Maple Leaf Trot, She’s A Great Lady, William Wellwood Memorial, Peaceful Way, Roses Are Red, Milton, Nassagaweya and Eternal Camnation.

Along with nominations closing, sustaining payments are also due Tuesday for the Pepsi North America Cup, Canadian Trotting Classic, Fan Hanover, Elegantimage, Goodtimes, Somebeachsomewhere, Casual Breeze and “Fall Four” Stakes.

WEG once again will offer several “Spring Series” in the upcoming months. Nominations to the Youthful, Blossom, The Diplomat, Princess, Tie Silk, Celia’s Counsel and Don Mills Series are due Tuesday.

WEG continues to handle administrative duties for all Alliance Racetrack stakes. Nominations to the Balanced Image and Dream Of Glory Trots at Hanover Raceway, Kin Pace at Clinton Raceway and City of London Series at Western Fair close on Tuesday.

Sustaining payments are also due Tuesday for the Confederation Cup at Flamboro Downs and Battle of Waterloo/Belles at Grand River Raceway.

The March 15 deadline also includes sustaining payments for the Champlain, Simcoe and SBOA Stakes. A sustaining payment is due Tuesday for the 2016 Champlain/Champlain Filly Stakes and the 2017 Simcoe/Simcoe Filly Stakes (foals of 2014). The WEG/SBOA Filly Trots also have a sustaining payment due Tuesday for the 2016 edition (foals of 2013) and 2017 edition (foals of 2014).

To view the nominations sheet for the events closing Tuesday (March 15), click here. To view the WEG Stakes Booklet, click here. To make nomination and sustaining payments online, click here.

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

Any questions or concerns regarding the March 15 deadline can be directed to the Mohawk Race Office, 905.854.7805.

— Mark McKelvie

March payment deadline for all Hambletonian Society-serviced stakes approaching

Cranbury, NJ — March sustaining and nominating payments for Hambletonian Society stakes events are due Tuesday (March 15) and per USTA Rule 12 section 2, must be postmarked by midnight on Wednesday (March 16).

The Carl Milstein Memorial at Northfield Park has been changed from a stakes to an Invitational event, open to 3-year-old pacers regardless of gender. The field will be limited to eight starters and race for a minimum of $300,000 on Saturday (Aug. 13). Any stakes payments received for this race will be refunded by the Hambletonian Society.

Please note that there is a separate Breeders Crown 2-year-old future eligibility payment of $500 due March 15 that maintains eligibility for the Breeders Crown 3-year-old events of 2017, hosted by Hoosier Park in Indiana.

The Hambletonian Society services 129 of harness racing’s richest and most prestigious events and provides one-stop shopping for your staking needs. The website 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.

For additional information call the Society offices at 609.371.2211.

— Moira Fanning

Babic sustaining payments due March 15

Owners of 2-year-old New Jersey sired pacers are reminded that the only sustaining payment for the Lou Babic Memorial races — both Open and Filly divisions — must be postmarked no later than March 15.

The races will be conducted at Freehold Raceway with eliminations, if necessary, scheduled for Sept. 10 and the finals on Sept. 17.

Registered owners have previously been sent the sustaining payment form by mail. In the event that you did not receive your copy, you may download the form at www.newjerseysirestakes.com or call the Sire Stakes office at 609.292.8830.

— Christopher Castens

March 15 payments due for Meadowlands races

East Rutherford, NJ — This is a friendly reminder that the stakes and Early Closers at The Meadowlands require a March 15 postmark on sustaining payments.

Information is available by following this link or by calling the Racing Office at 877.782.2537.

— Meadowlands Media Relations

March 15 payments due for Tioga and Vernon stakes

Nichols, NY — Please be advised that all Early and Late Closing events for 2016 at Tioga and Vernon Downs have a nomination deadline of March 15 (postmarked by).

These races include the Roll With Joe (Open Pace), Artiscape (Open Mare Pace), Crawford Farms (Open Trot) and Muscle Hill (Open Mare Trot). All are estimated to have a purse of $175,000.

The slate of late closers for the meet are available for viewing at the link below.

All payments for the Empire Breeders Classic for New York sired and eligible are also due by March 15. These include the nomination of 2-year-olds, sustaining/supplemental for 3-year-olds and stallion nomination payment for the 2018 edition.

Please visit Tioga’s website for more details and necessary forms or call the office at 607.372.1693.

— Nick Salvi

Ontario Sire Stakes 2-year-old payments due March 15

Toronto, ON — Owners of Ontario Sires Stakes eligible horses are reminded that the deadline for the 2-year-old OSS sustaining payment of C$500 ($375 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 2014.

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

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

— Karen Hauver

FSBOA stakes payments due by March 15

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

The payments are as follows: FL Breeders Stake ($100), FL Stallion Stake ($100), Sunshine State Stake ($50) and Melvyn Aylor Memorial ($150).

Sustaining mail in forms and payments online are available on our website at www.myfsboa.com or contact Rosie Huff at 954.972.5400.

— Rosie Huff

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 be aware of the March 15 nomination payment for the C$200,000 Prix D’Ete.

The race is only eligible to 4-year-old pacers with the top eight money earners in 2016 at time of entry going into the rich final. The race will be held on Sunday (Aug. 21).

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

— Laurent Sauve

Pennsylvania Sire Stakes payments due March 15

Harrisburg, PA — The Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission is reminding Standardbred horse owners that 2016 Sire Stakes payments for 2- and 3-year-old horses are due by March 15.

The first payments due for 2-year-old horses are $150 for the Pari-mutuel Division and $25 for the Fair Division. This payment must be made for the horse to qualify for future opportunities in the PA Sire Stakes.

The final payment of $500 for the Pari-mutuel Division for 3-year-olds is also due by March 15.

The Sire Stakes sustaining payment forms are available at www.agriculture.pa.gov. Search “sire stakes.” Individuals can also contact Pennie Dodson at pdodson@pa.gov to obtain payment forms.

— Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission