Important payments are due May 15 to make and keep horses eligible to the lucrative New Jersey Sire Stakes program and other special stakes races for New Jersey-sired horses.

Nominations are due for foals of 2009 that are yearlings in 2010. All horses nominated must be registered with the U. S. Trotting Association or Standardbred Canada.

For eligibility to the NJSS (Premier and Green Acres divisions), payments should be mailed to NJSS, P.O. Box 330, Trenton, NJ 08625.

NJSS Executive Director Christopher Castens said that registered mail is strongly suggested to avoid potential problems in mailing or delivery of payments. No late payments are accepted.

The fee is $50 for the NJSS Premier and Green Acres Divisions if a copy of the yearling’s registration certificate accompanies the nomination. Without a copy of the certificate, the fee is $75. The Lou Babic Pace nomination fee, which is also due May 15, is an additional $25 for the open division and $15 for the filly division.

It is important to note that the yearling nomination fee is $250 if the foal being nominated is the result of the interstate transport of a registered New Jersey stallion’s semen to a mare outside the state of New Jersey, provided a copy of the certificate accompanies the fee. Without the certificate, the interstate semen transport nomination fee is $275.

(With files from the NJSS)