by Jerry Connors, for the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission

Harrisburg, PA — Pennsylvania breeders who want their PA-residing mares to qualify for “resident” status in the Pennsylvania Harness Breeders Fund program must have the necessary Breeders Fund Registration Form(s) postmarked to go into the Harrisburg office by the close of this year (and this week), Friday, Dec. 31.

If the mare in question, carrying a PA-sired 2011 foal, lives in the state for 180 contiguous days, including foaling, and has her paperwork in order with the Harness Racing Commission, overseers of the Harness Breeders Fund, the resultant foal is then in position to generate the breeder a healthy award by competing well in eligible-PA races during his or her years of Fund eligibility.

Forms are available online at the state Department of Agriculture website (www.agriculture.state.pa.us; click on “Commissions” to the left, then “Racing Commission,” then “Forms,” then “Breeders Fund Registration Form”), or by contacting the Commission at gconnors@state.pa.us or 717.787.5539, where we can fax or e-mail you a form (the Commission office will not be open on Dec. 31).

All broodmare registration forms must carry a postmark on or before Dec. 31, or the mare cannot be accepted as a “PA resident.” (The W-9 form for first-time PA Breeders Awards participants, while preferred, is not absolutely mandatory at this time.)

Note: If a mare is to qualify for PA residency for the racing career of her 2011 foal, but will not be in Pennsylvania until after the first of the year, that mare must also have paperwork sent to us by Dec. 31, with the farm information and residency period filled in or indicated “to be determined,” after which the information will be sent to us as soon as it is known, or facing noneligibility.