from harness publicists across North America

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.

Stakes fee reminder for Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs

Wilkes-Barre, PA — Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs’ Race Office would like to remind everyone that the deadline for the initial $200 nominating fee for Pennsylvania All-Stars 2-year-olds will be due by Thursday (March 15).

Also due on that date will be the sustaining payment for 3-year-olds in the Pennsylvania All-Stars as well as the Ben Franklin Free For All Pace.

All mailed payments must be postmarked by March 15.

For inquiries, please call the Race Office at 570.831.2126.

— Jennifer Starr

Payments due for Balmoral-Maywood stakes

Crete, IL — Balmoral and Maywood Park would like to remind horsemen that sustaining and nomination payments are due March 15 for several big stakes races at both tracks.

At Balmoral Park nominating payments are due for the 2-year-old American-Nationals and the 2-year-old Hanover Stakes. Nominating payments are also due for the 2-year-old Orange & Blue Stakes as well as the Lincoln Land and Lady Lincoln Land Stakes for trotters. Payments are also due for the Southland Festival of Racing stakes that will be contested July 28-August 4.

More information and nomination forms can be found under the horsemen’s information section at www.balmoralpark.com.

At Maywood Park nominating payments are due for the Abe Lincoln Stake for 2-year-old pacing colts as well as the Galt Stake for 3-year-old trotters. Those events will be contested on Friday, Nov. 16.

Information and nomination forms for these events can be found under the horsemen’s information section at www.maywoodpark.com.

For any other questions please contact the race offices at Balmoral Park (708.672.1414) and/or Maywood Park, (708.343.4800).

— Tom Kelley

Payments due on March 15 for SBOANJ-sponsored stakes

Manalapan, NJ — Supplemental and sustaining fees are due on March 15 for the Anthony Abbatiello New Jersey Classic, Thomas D’Altrui Miss New Jersey and other stakes administered by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey.

Details and forms are available on the SBOANJ website’s “Stakes Forms” link. Visit www.sboanj.com.

Payments, in US funds only, should be made by check or money order payable to SBOANJ, 64 Business Route 33, Manalapan, NJ 07726.

— Carol Hodes

Meadowlands stakes nominations due March 15

East Rutherford, NJ — Meadowlands Racetrack would like to remind horse owners that nominations close Thursday (March 15) for the Spring Survivor Series for 3-year-old trotters and pacers (non-winners of two races or $30,000 lifetime as of March 1) and the Green With Envy and Ima Lula for 4-year-old mares.

Applications are available under the Horsemen Section at www.MeadowlandsRacetrack.com.

— Amy Silver

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

Toronto, ON — The Ontario Sires Stakes Administration would like to remind everyone that the deadline for the C$500 sustaining fee for Ontario-sired 2-year-olds that were nominated to the OSS as yearlings in 2011 is quickly approaching. All payments must be received or postmarked by Thursday, March 15, 2012.

Please be aware that envelopes dropped into a mailbox do not always get postmarked that day. We recommend sending payments by courier or registered mail so you will have proof that you sent it and the envelope can be tracked. If not sending by registered mail, please ensure that the envelope has a postmark of March 15 or earlier.

If you did not receive the sustaining notice that was mailed mid-February, a blank form has been posted under the “forms” section on the OSS website at www.ontariosiresstakes.com or just print your horse’s name and tattoo number on the front of your check and mail it to: Ontario Sires Stakes, 10 Carlson Court, Suite 400, Toronto, ON M9W 6L2.

— Karen Hauver

Maryland staking and stallion info online

Union Bridge, MD — The 2-year-old payments (foals of 2010) are due to the Maryland Standardbred Fund and the Maryland Sire Stakes on March 15, 2012.

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: 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 240.285.0326 (cell).

— Cheri Stambaugh

PA Sire Stakes payments due

Harrisburg, PA — The Pennsylvania Sire Stakes reminds horsemen that sustaining payments for the program must be postmarked by this Thursday (March 15).

For 2-year-olds, a pari-mutuel payment of $150 is due, and a fair payment of $25; you can pick one or (what most people do, depending on circumstances) both. This payment carries eligibility over to the 3-year-old year, even if the freshman does not make the May 15 payment of $400 pari-mutuel and $50 fair, which would enable Sire Stakes participation this year.

For 3-year-olds, a $500 pari-mutuel payment, the only one for sophomores, is due Thursday. The fair payment for this group is not due until May 15.

Pari-mutuel payments for the Sire Stakes also make the horse eligible for that year’s Stallion Series action.

As noted earlier, the Sire Stakes money for the 2012 season is in place, based on slots revenue in 2011 and a generous helping hand from the pari-mutuel horsemen for the fair circuit. Some $10 million is likely to be on the line over the pari-mutuel tracks, with another $2 million or so to be contested at the fairs.

For forms, and to have questions answered, please contact Jerry Connors (gconnors@pa.gov; 717.787.5539) or Pennie Dodson (pdodson@pa.gov; 717.214.9053).

— Jerry Connors

DSBF 2-year-old payments due

Dover, DE — Payments for eligible 2-year-olds to race in DSBF races in 2012 are due March 15. Any type of mail must have a March 15 postmark. A form to make this payment is posted at www.desbf.com. The payment is $100. This payment must be made to retain eligibility as a 3-year-old in 2013. Any 2-year-old who was not nominated as a yearling may make a $350 supplement payment in addition to the regular sustaining payment.

The Harrington races will begin Oct. 9, which is one week earlier than previously scheduled due to Harrington’s four-day live racing schedule. The trotters were the only divisions affected by the schedule change. The Dover races begin on Nov. 13 with the trotters.

These horses will also be eligible for a 4-year-old overnight bonus in 2014.

Forms must be used and are available on the referenced website.

For further information contact 302.698.4610 or e-mail Judy.Davis-Wilson@state.de.us.

— Judy Davis-Wilson

March 15 stakes payments due at Tioga and Vernon

Nichols, NY — Payments to nominate to all stakes serviced by Tioga and Vernon Downs have a closing date of March 15.

The Empire Breeders Classic, Kindergarten Trotting Classic, Artiscape, Bettor’s Delight, Credit Winner, Muscle Hill and Miss Versatility are all back for 2012 as part of a program estimated to be worth more than $2.5 million at the two New York venues.

Stall applications may still be submitted for the summer meet at Tioga. Further stakes info, nomination forms and stall apps may be accessed by visiting the Tioga Downs website or calling 607.699.7688.

— Nick Salvi

Sustaining payments are also due for the 73rd Standardbred 2-year-old colt and filly stakes for foals of 2010 to be raced in 2012.

The estimated purse for the 2013 Little Brown Jug is $650,000 and $350,000 for the Jugette. The purse for the Old Oaken Bucket will be $150,000 and $110,000 for the Buckette.

The estimated purses for the Standardbred 2-year-old colt pace and trot are $80,000; the Standardbred 2-year-old filly trot is $62,000 and Standardbred 2-year-old filly pace is $60,000.

All payments must be made to: Tom Wright, P.O. Box 1560, Powell, OH 43065.

For additional information about the Little Brown Jug and all other Delaware Grand Circuit stakes check out our website: www.littlebrownjug.com.

Sustaining payments: Little Brown Jug No. 68-$500-Open-3-year-old colt pace; Jugette No. 43-$400-pace for 3-year-old fillies; Old Oaken Bucket No. 61-$300- Open-3-year-old trot; Buckette No. 62-$200-trot for 3-year-old fillies; Standardbred No. 73-$400-pace and trot for 2-year-old colts; Standardbred No. 73-$300-pace and trot for 2-year-old fillies.

— Tom White