The March 15 deadline is drawing near for many stakes payments. Below is a list of notices that have 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.
The best way to keep track of nominations and sustaining payments is with the USTA Stakes Guide. For more information, click here.
PAYMENT DUE MARCH 15 FOR 2027 MEADOWLANDS PACE
East Rutherford, NJ – The $400 sustaining payment on 2-year-olds (foals of 2024) to race in the 2027 Meadowlands Pace is due March 15 (postmarked by March 16). There is a supplemental payment of $1,000 that may be made to gain eligibility for any foal of 2024 that was not made eligible by the yearling payment.
The list of horses that were made eligible by the yearling payment is here. The form is available on the Meadowlands website.
Sustaining payments for all 2026 Meadowlands stakes are also due on March 15 (postmarked by March 16). The list of eligible horses for all those stakes is posted on the website.
from Meadowlands Racetrack Media Relations
MSRF 2-YEAR-OLD PAYMENTS DUE MARCH 15
Ocean Pines, MD – Two-year old payments (foals of 2024) are due to the MD Standardbred Race Fund on March 15. These payments include both the MD Sire Stakes and MD Standardbred Fund.
As per regulation, we will accept a postmark of Monday (March 16) since the payment date falls on a weekend.
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.
It is recommended that all payments be sent by certified or priority mail with tracking. Please use the following address: Maryland Standardbred Race Fund, P.O. Box 1530, Ocean Pines, MD 21811.
from the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund
INAUGURAL OAK GROVE TROTTING DERBY, TROTTING OAKS PAYMENTS DUE MARCH 15
Oak Grove, KY – Nominating payments for the inaugural $500,000 Oak Grove Trotting Derby and $300,000 Oak Grove Trotting Oaks are due March 15, 2026. The payment schedule is set forth below:
| Age | Date | Open | Fillies |
| 3-Year-Olds | March 15 | $500 | $500 |
| April 15 | $500 | $500 | |
| Elim Entry Fee | $1500 | $500 | |
| Consolation Entry Fee | $500 | $500 | |
| 2-Year-Olds (for 2027 Races) | March 15, 2026 | $250 | $250 |
Race conditions can be found here.
Winners of The Road to the Oak Grove Trotting Derby and Road to the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks “win and you’re in” automatic qualifying events that earned a fully paid, automatic spot in the corresponding elimination race for the 2026 inaugural events must nominate but will have their pre-entry and starting fees covered by the race sponsors.
Road to the Oak Grove Trotting Derby
| Oak Grove Trotting Derby Automatic Qualifying Races | 2025 Race Winner | 2025 Earnings |
| Breeders Crown 2YO Trot | Spencer Hanover | $649,889 |
| Mohawk Million | Apex | $871,798 |
| Peter Haughton | Apex | $871,798 |
| William Wellwood | Ardonne | $289,150 |
| Valley Victory | Diabolic Hill | $506,636 |
| Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series | Endurance | $557,450 |
| Indiana Sire Stakes Championship | Premier Bluebird | $182,455 |
| Ohio Sire Stakes Championship (Scarlet) | Big Ranger | $370,160 |
| New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship | Apex | $871,798 |
| New York Sire Stakes Championship | AI | $395,073 |
| Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship | Dublin Hanover | $216,247 |
| Ontario Sire Stakes Championship (Gold) | Strobe Lite | $274,423 |
Road to the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks
| Oak Grove Trotting Oaks Automatic Qualifying Races | 2025 Race Winner | 2025 Earnings |
| Breeders Crown 2YO Filly Trot | Storybook Love | $497,921 |
| Jim Doherty | Atlantic Summer | $390,518 |
| Peaceful Way | Sugar Packet | $236,192 |
| Kentuckiana Stallion Management | Nezuko Kamado S | $549,064 |
| Goldsmith Maid | All Time Trot S | $278,202 |
| Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series | Country Glide | $269,925 |
| Indiana Sire Stakes Championship | For Dayze | $263,000 |
| Ohio Sire Stakes Championship (Scarlet) | Setyoursightshigh | $678,159 |
| New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship | Emmas Mystery CCL | $228,636 |
| New York Sire Stakes Championship | Sharp Seven | $400,900 |
| Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship | Ginger Tree Lex | $274,440 |
| Ontario Sire Stakes Championship (Gold) | Bingo Night | $307,162 |
*Any automatic slot winner that has won more than one qualifying race is limited to only one spot for the eliminations.
from Oak Grove Racing
SBOANJ STAKES PAYMENTS DUE MARCH 16
Manalapan, NJ – March 16 is the deadline for payments of Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey administered stakes, as March 15 falls on a Sunday, including the Garden State Trot and the Home Grown Pace for 2- and 3-year-olds.
Garden State Trot #9
2-Year-Olds
Sustaining $250
Supplemental $300
Garden State Trot #8
3-Year-Olds
Sustaining $400
Supplemental $1,500
Home Grown Pace #9
2-Year-Olds
Sustaining $200
Supplemental $300
Home Grown Pace #8
3-Year-Olds
Sustaining $300
Supplemental $1,500
Visit www.sboanj.com for forms and applications. For more information call the office at 732-462-2357.
from the SBOANJ
FSBOA STAKES PAYMENTS REMINDER
Margate, FL – Florida Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association stakes payments must be postmarked by March 15, 2026.
Two Year-Olds (Foals of 2024):
March 15 – Florida Breeders…… $200*
March 15 – Sunshine Stakes….. $100*
March 15 – Stallion Stake………. $175*
*Must be made to remain eligible as a 3-year-old.
Three Year-Old (Foals of 2023):
March 15 – Sunshine State Stake… $100
March 15 – Florida Breeders. ….……$200
March 15 – Stallion Stake…….………$175
There are no Melvyn Aylor & Tom Audley races this year.
Payments can be made on the FSBOA website, www.floridaharnessracing.com, or by check mailed to:
FSBOA
6750 NW 11th Court
Margate, FL 33063
If you sold your horse, please let me know so I can contact the new owners so they don’t miss the payments. Any questions, please call Rosie, cell: 954-415-7065.
from the FSBOA