Lansing, MI — The Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association Board of Directors, in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Agriculture, announced Tuesday (June 21) increases to Michigan’s summer stakes purses.

The 2022 summer program offers two separate eight-week programs: one restricted to only Michigan-sired horses, and one open to both Michigan-sired and Michigan-bred horses. Each series will carry estimated purses of $11,000 per division per event, and will culminate in a $20,000 fair final featuring the best from the Michigan-sired and Michigan-bred program.

This year’s Michigan Sire Stakes will boast a combined $800,000 in purses, as top 2- and 3-year-old Michigan-sired horses will compete for $100,000 per division.

Other notable updates include the $20,000 Great Lakes Stakes for Michigan-sired horses, $20,000 Michigan Breeders Stakes, and the newly created Spartan Stakes, which will offer an estimated $25,000 per division.

Michigan’s summer program kicks off July 9 at the Eaton County Fairgrounds in Charlotte, Mich., with the first week of the Michigan-sired series.

The full summer schedule can be found at www.mhha.com. Archived race replays will be available all season long at www.trotandpacemarketing.com.