Pennsylvania Sire Stake time standards clarified

In response to a number of recent inquiries, the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission would like to provide a handy summary of the qualifying times required for participation in this year’s Keystone stakes events:

PENNSYLVANIA PARI-MUTUEL SIRE STAKES – This is the first year (foals of 2007) that the new freshman qualifying times for Sire Stakes are in place: 2:03 for pacers, 2:05 for trotters.

Because the 3 year olds (foals of 2006) were not part of this change, their times have remained the same: ironically, 2:03 for pacers and 2:05 for trotters. (Next year, when the foals of 2007 are 3 year olds, the sophomore standards will be 2:00 on the pace and 2:02 on the trot.)

STALLION SERIES – This new event for PA-sired 2 year olds has the same qualifying times as do the p/m Sire Stakes. (The Stallion Series, by the way, gets underway at The Meadows on Tuesday with two events for freshman filly pacers.)

PENNSYLVANIA FAIR SIRE STAKES – The fair stakes have also had a lowering in the 2-year-old (foals of 2007) ranks: for trotters, 2:20 before June 30, and 2:15 thereafter; pacers 2:10.

Again, the 3-year-old crop (foals of 2006) was not subject to revision, so their times remain 2:10 for pacers and 2:15 for trotters. Next year, the standards will go to 2:05 for 3-year-old pacers and 2:10 for 3-year-old trotters.

The full conditions for the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes can be found in the USTA’s annual publication The Stakes Guide. If still unsure, a call to the track’s racing secretary, especially at the pari-mutuel tracks, might be the best answer. (PHRC)

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