The 2017 Ohio Sires Stakes program continued to be the most lucrative program for state-bred trotters and pacers in 2017, as it provided $7 million in purses to participants via the Ohio Standardbred Development Fund (OSDF).

The total amount for state-funded programs for Ohio-breds was $13,430,210 in 2017, which, besides the Ohio Sires Stakes, includes the: Ohio Fair Conference ($1,832,727); Home Talent Stakes ($1,177,728); Ohio State Fair Stakes ($1,007,700); Ohio Colt Racing Association ($898,309); Western Ohio Colt Racing Association ($795,694); and Southern Valley Colt Circuit ($718,052).

As well, another $2,497,238 was provided to horsepeople via these non-state funded stakes programs: Buckeye Stallion Series ($1,195,000); Ohio Breeders’ Championships ($947,238); Ohio Fairs Championships ($200,000); and Hackett Memorials ($155,000).

Overall, Buckeye-bred Standardbreds—including both state-funded and non-state-funded programs—raced for a total of $15,927,448 in 2017.

OHIO SIRES STAKES YEAR-BY-YEAR COMPARISIONS

Ohio Sires Stakes participants raced for a total of $7 million in 2017, compared with $8.19 million in 2016 and $5.7 million in 2015. Obviously, the strengthening of the OSDF program contributed to the boost in both sires stakes-eligible horses and money raced for from 2015 to 2016, while the reduction in revenues paid to sires stakes-eligible horses in 2017 from 2016 was likewise due to the introduction of the Buckeye Stallion Series (BSS), which contributed to a slight decline in sires stakes starters and events.

The number of sires stakes-eligible horses increased by 3.8 per cent in 2017, with 1,148 compared with 1,106 in 2016. However, despite 42 more sires stakes-eligible horses in 2017, there was a 19.22 per cent decrease in sires stakes starters in 2017, with 374 compared with 463 in 2016. Horses earning purse cheques in sires stakes tests dropped 16 per cent (50 horses) in 2017 to 265, from 315 in 2016. Likewise, a 16.56 per cent decrease was seen in the number of sires stakes races contested in the two and three-year-old divisions, with 131 in 2017, compared with 157 in 2016.

Upon studying the sires stakes freshmen and sophomore divisions, variances over the past two seasons again reveal shifts in both eligible and starters.

The two-year-old colt trot division saw a 25.34 per cent increase in sires stakes-eligible horses from 2016 to 2017, with 183 this season compared with 146 in 2016. As well, there were 50 starters in 2016 and 53 in 2017; with 39 of those 2017 starters garnering a purse cheque, compared with 34 in 2016, a 14.71 per cent increase. There were 19 races in this division in 2017, one more than in 2016, and boosted the purses in this division (by $40,000) from $940,000 in 2016 to $980,000 in 2017.

The sires stakes two-year-old filly trot division saw slight decreases across the board: eligibles 165 (2016) vs. 161 (2017); starters 53 (2016) vs. 44 (2017); purse earners 39 (2016) vs. 33 (2017); races 19 (2016) vs. 16 (2017). Purses paid in this division dropped from $980,000 in 2016 to $860,000 in 2017, a 12.24 per cent decrease.

Significant changes to the sires stakes program were seen in the two-year-old pacing colt division in 2017, as purses paid ($1,180,000) decreased by 21.33 per cent, compared with $1,500,000 paid in 2016. The number of eligible horses in this division was down four per cent, from 242 in 2016 to 232 in 2017, while starters declined 31.19 per cent, from 109 in 2016 to 75 in 2017. Likewise, 67 pacing colts nabbed a purse cheque in sires stakes contests in 2016, compared with 50 in 2017; with 24 races held in 2017 compared with 32 in this division in 2016, a 25 per cent decrease.

Slight declines were seen in the two-year-old pacing filly division, with 211 eligibles in 2016 and 193 in 2017. The number of starters declined 22 per cent, from 77 in 2016 to 60 in 2017, while the number of purse earners dropped from 55 in 2016 to 37 in 2017, a 32.73 per cent decline. The number of sires stakes races in this division dropped from 24 ($1,200,000) in 2016 to 18 ($940,000) in 2017.

Overall, the two-year-old division saw slightly more sires stakes-eligibles in 2017, from 764 in 2016 to 769, with purses down from $4,640,000 in 2016 to $3,960,000 in 2017 due to less races (77) and starters (232) in 2017, compared with 2016 (94 races and 289 starters). A full 159 freshman nabbed purse cheques in sires stakes events this year, compared with 195 in 2016.

The numbers in the three-year-old colt pacing division were nearly identical from 2016 to 2017, with $860,000 in purses paid out and 16 races contested each season. As well, 30 of the 48 starters from 121 sires stakes-eligibles (up 26 per cent) in 2017 garnered purse cheques, compared with 30 of 44 starters and 96 sires stakes-eligibles in 2016.

Likewise, the three-year-old pacing filly division saw only slight variances in numbers, with 110 eligibles (up 18.28 per cent) and 42 starters (down 17.65 per cent) in 2017, compared with 93 eligibles and 51 starters in 2016. A total of 33 sophomore distaffs nabbed purse cheques in 16 races in 2017, compared with 36 who earned money in 18 races in 2016.

Numbers were also close among the three-year-old trotting fillies who battled in sires stakes competition, with 72 eligibles, 28 starters (a 30 per cent decrease) and 23 cheque-getters in 11 races in 2017, compared with 71 eligibles, 40 starters, 24 money-earners in 13 races in 2016. Two less races in this division in 2017 constituted a drop in purses from $740,000 in 2016 to $660,000 in 2017.

In the three-year-old colt trotting division, the number of races (11 in 2017) declined 31.25 per cent, from 16 in 2016, as the number of 2016 eligibles (82) and starters (39) decreased to 76 (an 8 per cent decline) and 24 (a 38.46 per cent decline) in 2017. As well, 20 diagonally-gaited sophomore colts nabbed cheques in 2017, compared with 30 who did so in 2016, a 33.33 per cent decrease. Purses paid in this division were $860,000 in 2016 and $660,000 in 2017.

In conclusion, the three-year-old trotting division saw an 11.14 per cent spike with 379 eligibles in 2017 compared with 341 in 2016, however the number of sires stakes starters declined 18.39 per cent in 2017 with 142, from 174 in 2016. A full 106 garnered purse cheques in 2017, an 11.67 per cent decrease, compared with 120 in 2016, while the number of races dropped from 63 in 2016 for this division to 54 in 2017, resulting in purses of $3,040,000 in 2017 compared with $3,400,000 for 2016.

TRAINERS

Conditioner Chris Beaver captured his first Kaltenbach training title in 2017. He sent 78 youngsters postward, and they scored a total of 17 triumphs, with 12 seconds and 13 thirds for earnings of $782,200. Those earnings bested runner-up conditioner Brian Brown — who harnessed a total of 94 starters to stats of (17-15-12) — by $77,000. Last year’s Kaltenbach winner, Jim Dailey, finished third in the rankings. His 59 starters produced a total of six wins and $561,100 in sires stakes earnings. Ron Burke, who sent forth nine winners and banked a total of $479,400 in purses, was fourth in the standings, followed by Steve Carter in fifth (six wins and $274,200).

DRIVERS

Chris Page captured the Kaltenbach crown for the third consecutive season and fourth time overall. The 34-year-old Page steered 20 winners and recorded 17 second-place finishes and 14 thirds from 114 starts, to $849,100 in sires stakes earnings. Ronnie Wrenn Jr. wasn’t far behind. He recorded 15 wins, 18 second-place and 14 third-place finishes and drove to $814,100 in purses from 89 starts. Danny Noble had stats of 12-13-7 from 79 starts ($772,700 in purses) in sires stakes contests to finish third. Aaron Merriman had 14 wins from 90 starts and $556,500 in purses. Ryan Stahl nabbed fifth-place honours courtesy of five wins from 69 starts and $506,500 in sires stakes earnings.

In 2017 sires stakes competition, 17 drivers steered the winners of $102,300 or more, while 15 piloted horses that earned between $12,500 and $82,000. Another six drivers earned between $102,500 and $191,200 in purses, and six more earned between $201,300 and $471,600 in purses. The top five drivers in sires stakes competition in 2017 guided the winners of $506,600 or more.

From the 67 drivers who competed in the sires stakes series in this past season, 50 earned at least one purse cheque, and 18 earned $9,800 or less.

Two reinsmen who earned a combined $30,000 from two cheques in just one sires stakes start each were John Campbell and Yannick Gingras. Hall of Famer John Campbell finished second with Banderbear, six-plus lengths behind the 1:51.2-winning Drunk On Your Love on June 10 in the second leg of the Ohio Sires Stake Three-Year-Old Colt Pace at Scioto Downs. Yannick Gingras captured the third leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes Three-Year-Old Filly Pace on August 12 at Northfield Park with the Nancy Johansson-trained Jayes A Lady, clocked in 1:52 at the Cleveland ‘twice-arounder’ in a wire-to-wire effort.

In the 30 years the Kaltenbachs have been awarded, David Miller leads all drivers with seven trophies. In the training ranks, Virgil Morgan Jr. has captured the title six times. Only two horsemen have won the Kaltenbachs in both the training and driving categories — Sam ‘Chip’ Noble III and Dave Rankin.

The Jerry Kaltenbach Memorial Trophies were established in 1988 — named in honour of one of the Ohio Sires Stakes founding fathers — and are awarded annually to the driver and trainer who have earned the most dollars competing in sires stakes events.

(OSDF)