from RUS NY

This year’s Racing Under Saddle New York Fair Series championship will be held on Sept. 2 at Monticello Raceway along with the New York Sire Stakes County Fair finals.

This marks the second year of the series, which included nine races at seven fairs across the state. Horses and riders have been competing the last two months with the hopes of making it into the final race and capturing the championship title.

Horses earned points during the series to determine final entries. Soon, the anticipation of which horses and riders will be competing in the final will be over. The draw will take place this Friday.

All participants will earn $650 for earning their way into the championship race. Monticello Raceway is contributing $2,500 toward the final and the rest of the funds are coming from the series’ flagship sponsor, the New York Sire Stakes. The NYSS generously donated $5,000 as initial purse money.

The winner will also receive a championship cooler donated by Peterson’s Harness Shop in Vernon, N.Y. and a lead line donated by Divine Equine Custom Equipment.

A High Point Rider Award will once again be presented at the final to the rider who has earned the most points, regardless of horses ridden throughout the series. To be eligible for the award riders must participate in at least three races.

Horses are required to compete and finish in at least two races throughout the series to be allowed entry into the championship race. Nine horses participated in the series with seven qualifying for the final. Points earned are accrued by horse, regardless of rider in each race. Up to five qualifiers will be eligible for the final race. In the event of a scratch, the horse with the next highest points will be entered into the final. In the event of a tie, charted race lines will be reviewed and the RUS NY Management Committee will select the horse to be entered based on past performance history.