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New PA stakes series set to begin at The Meadows

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June 19, 2009

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A new stakes series will make its debut at The Meadows on Tuesday night, June 23, and 16 two-year-old pacing fillies will be the first to take to the track for the event. Each of the two divisions will go for $26,600.

The Stallion Series is designed for PA-bred, 2-year-old pacers and trotters that may not as yet be able to compete at the top level of Pennsylvania Sire Stake competition. The purse for each division is set at $50,000-added. According to Jerry Connors of the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission, "It gives these young horses a chance to compete for decent money, and they probably won�t have to go as fast as they would in the main Sire Stake."

The races are scheduled, when possible, within a day or two of the "A" level Sire Stakes, so that trainers must make a decision to race in one or the other, not both.

Connors notes, "The first Stallion Stake is actually scheduled eight days in advance of a 2-year-old filly pace at The Meadows, because the track is backed up with a lot of stakes in the next week. However, we put in a special provision noting that you still cannot race in both this Stallion Series stake and the PA Sire Stake on July 1."

The funding for the new series is coming from Pennsylvania�s slot revenue, at least for the four eliminations that each division will hold. The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association and the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen�s Association will combine to put up $160,000--$40,000 for each division �for the finals, which will be held at The Meadows on September 28, the day before the PA Sire Stake Championships.

"We are thrilled to see this new series created," said Richard Gillock, MSOA President, "and we are just as happy to be able to support a Championship with purse funds. Not every two-year-old is going to be able to win at the top level, so this gives owners and trainers of some other very nice horses a chance to go for good money. I think the series is going to be a great fit for Pennsylvania."

The Stallion Series, at this time, is for 2-year-olds only. (Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)

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