The Feb. 15 deadline is drawing near for many stakes payments. Below are a list of notices that have recently 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.
First payment for inaugural Rockin Nola due Feb. 15
Cranbury, NJ – Don’t miss your chance to be part of the excitement with the inaugural Rockin Nola!
WHEN: Friday, Aug. 14
WHERE: Hoosier Park
FOR: 3-Year-Old & Up Pacing Mares
Estimated Purse: $100,000
The first stakes payment is due Feb. 15 — secure your spot and stay eligible for this exciting new event.
Make your plans now and be part of what promises to be a standout night of racing. Don’t miss it!
For more information, please visit https://www.hambletonian.com/ or contact your staking company.
from the Hambletonian Society
Moni Maker/Nadia Lobell Nominations due Feb. 15
Columbus, OH – Nominations for the G3 Moni Maker (3-year-old filly trot) and G3 Nadia Lobell (3-year-old filly pace) are due to The Red Mile on Feb. 15. Both races will be held, for the third year, at Eldorado Scioto Downs, the host of the 2026 Breeders Crown.
Once the $750 February nomination payment is made, there will be a $1,000 sustaining payment due March 15. There are no supplemental nominations for either event.
“Both races will be held on Saturday, July 18, which looks to be a great spot in the race schedule, as most horses can still compete in their state sire stakes legs,” said Jason Roth, Scioto’s director of racing. “We’re excited to have some horses come here that want to get around the track before the Breeders Crown.”
March nominations for many Ohio events held at Scioto Downs will be due next month, including the Ohio State Fair, Ohio Sires Stakes and Buckeye Stallion Series. April brings the first opportunity to nominate to the Next Generation for $8,000.
Complete conditions for all paid into events can be found at: https://horsemen.ustrotting.com/stakes/conditions.cfm.
For more information about the 2026 racing season, which opens Thursday, May 7, visit Scioto Downs, visit https://www.caesars.com/scioto-downs/racing.
from Eldorado Scioto Downs
Delaware, Ohio Grand Circuit payments due
Delaware, OH — Sustaining payments for the Little Brown Jug (Grade 1) and the other Grand Circuit events held at the Delaware (Ohio) County Fair – the Jugette (3-year-old filly pace – Grade 1), Old Oaken Bucket (3-year-old open trot – Grade 3) and the Buckette (3-year-old filly trot – Grade 3) – are due Feb. 16. These payments are for foals of 2023.
The sustaining payments are as follows: Little Brown Jug ($1,200), Jugette ($500), Old Oaken Bucket ($500) and Buckette ($400).
Three-year-old pacers not eligible after Feb. 16 may supplement to the Little Brown Jug with a payment of $45,000 or the Jugette for $15,000.
The Little Brown Jug, Old Oaken Bucket and Buckette will be raced Thursday, Sept. 24, and the Jugette on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
The 2026 Delaware Grand Circuit meet will feature five days of racing (Sept. 20-24).
For payment forms, please visit www.littlebrownjug.com.
Make checks payable and send all entries to: The Delaware County Fair, Tom Wright, P.O. Box 1560, Powell, OH 43065.
from the Delaware County Fair
Hambletonian Society staking payments due Feb. 15
Cranbury, NJ — Horsemen are reminded that staking payments for the following races are due Feb. 15.
Participants are encouraged to review the events at this link and ensure all payments are submitted to the Hambletonian Society by the deadline to maintain eligibility.
If you have any questions regarding staking payments or eligibility, please contact stakes manager Nadia Tarnawa at 609.371.2211.
Please ensure all required payments are submitted by Feb. 15 to avoid ineligibility.
from the Hambletonian Society
Maryland 3-year-old payments due Feb. 15
Ocean Pines, MD — Three-year-old payments (foals of 2023) are due to the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund by Feb. 15. The sustaining fee is $300 each for both the Maryland Sire Stakes and Maryland Standardbred Fund.
All stallion pedigree’s, staking forms and stake dates are available online at www.msrfonline.com.
It is recommended that all payments be sent by certified mail or priority mail with tracking.
Maryland Standardbred Race Fund
P.O. Box 1530
Ocean Pines, MD 21811
from the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund
Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund 3-year-old payments due Feb. 15
Dover, DE — The $300 payment is due Feb. 15, 2026 (Feb. 17, 2026 due to the 15th being Sunday and the 16th a federal holiday) for any Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund eligible 3-year-old.
The April 15, 2025 (OR 6-1-2025 LATE PAYMENT) must have been made as a 2-year-old to be eligible as a 3-year-old in 2026.
If you use USPS, please use a service with a tracking number. All payments must be postmarked by Feb. 17, 2026.
Credit cards are an acceptable payment through the online portal on the DSBF website at:
https://agriculture.delaware.gov/delaware-standardbred-breeders-fund/
Owners can make multiple payments on horses in one transaction.
Payments may be delivered in person. The Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund office has moved from the Delaware Department of Agriculture to Harrington Raceway and Casino. If you need to make an appointment to drop off the payment, please call-in advance. Also, Mark Short will be in the Bally’s Dover Race Office until 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 16th for anyone racing to deliver payments.
For more information call (302) 698-4610 or E-mail Mark.Short@delaware.gov or visit Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund – Delaware Department of Agriculture – State of Delaware.
from the Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund
Maine 2- and 3-year-old Sire Stakes payments due Feb. 15
Augusta, ME — Maine Sire Stakes continuation forms for both 2- and 3-year-olds are due by Feb. 15.
Late fees are substantial if the deadline is missed.
Forms are available by clicking here.
Following is the schedule of fees for Maine Sire Stakes:
Feb. 15 – Continuation Fees
2-year-old $20
3-year-old $50
May 15 – Yearling Nomination – $20
At Declaration – Starting Fees
2-year-old $75
3-year-old $100
from Maine SBOA
Meadowlands Stallion Stakes & Early Closer participation payments on foals of 2025
East Rutherford, NJ — The Meadowlands will require a Stallion Early Closer Participation Payment to provide eligibility for their foals of 2025 for Meadowlands Stakes & Early Closers that comes due (postmarked by) Feb. 15, 2026.
(The payment made last September was on the foals of 2024 to race as 2-year-olds in 2026. This is a separate payment and covers a different crop of foals. It is the same process as was executed in September and our hope is that we can repeat that level of efficiency.)
The Stallion Restriction Condition (Gural Rule) will be waived and the 2025 foals by all participating (paid in) stallions will be eligible for nomination to all Meadowlands Stakes & Early Closers for the life of the horse.
The timing of the payment will accommodate yearlings by participating stallions to make the May 15 yearling nomination payment for the 2028 Meadowlands Pace along with the 2027 Meadowlands Early Closer Participation payment (TBD in 2027) and all subsequent required nominating and sustaining payments as written in the conditions for the entirety of their racing careers.
A payment equal to 50% of one 2024 breeding fee (or a minimum of $1,000) will be required on those stallions standing in North America for the 2024 breeding season to make their foals of 2025 eligible to be nominated to Meadowlands Stakes & Early Closers for the life of the horse is due (postmarked by) Feb. 15, 2026.
There is no fee for stallions standing solely outside North America. All payments are in us dollars or the equivalent. Canadian exchange should be the rate on the day payment is sent.
Foals of 2025 by stallions who are not made eligible to this Meadowlands Stakes & Early Closer Participation will NOT be eligible for nomination to these races for the entirety of their racing careers and there is no recourse.
The list of stallions with their 2024 stud fee, resulting in the 2025 foals, and the form to make this payment are available on the web by clicking here.
from Meadowlands Media Relations