The Pennsylvania Sire Stakes reminds horsemen of payments for yearlings, two-year-olds, and three-year-olds that are due this Saturday, May 15 – but because of the weekend, the sire stakes will be accepting a May 17 postmark on the envelopes.

In contrast to a few other states, Pennsylvania requires that a yearling payment be made -- $50 to be eligible to the pari-mutuel programs (sire stakes and Stallion Series), and $5 to be eligible to the fair circuit stakes. A copy of the certified registration paper is required to be mailed in with your cheque.

Two-year-old May 15 payments are $400 to be eligible to race in the pari-mutuel races this year, and $50 for the fairs. If a horse is not going to race in the stakes this year, the proper payment made back on March 15 will carry the horse’s eligibility until the three-year-old payment(s) are due in 2011 (if you missed the March 15 2YO payment, sorry – your horse is out at 2 and 3).

The only payment due for three-year-olds is a $100 payment to remain eligible to the fair stakes.

Forms should have been received in the mail by owners who made March 15 payments on their horses, and the yearling form is not really necessary as long as the important registration paper is sent in. But forms can be requested, or of course questions answered, by [email protected], or faxing 717-787-2271; our phone is 717-787-5539, but there has been a terrific volume of calls recently -- we will do the best we can to return all calls promptly.

Harrah’s Chester advises that cheques for trainers or drivers in stakes races will be held up if the horseman does not have a Racing Application on file; see the 'Horsemen' page at harrahschester.com.

(PHRC)