The continuously improving harness racing program in Massachusetts will hit another milestone this year after Plainridge Park announced it will add two new stakes to its already stellar schedule. The added purse from those events will push the total estimated value of the 2023 stakes to $3.27 million, making it the most lucrative offering of stakes prizes in the history of harness racing in New England.

Plainridge Park kicks off its live racing season on Monday, April 10 and the stake action begins only three weeks later.

First up is the $100,000 (estimated) Paul Revere Open Pace for three-year-olds, which will be held on Thursday, May 4 and is the first major test of the year for sophomore pacers. Nominations along with $300 are due Wednesday, Feb. 15 with a $300 sustaining payment due on Wednesday, March 15. A $200 starting fee is due upon declaration.

Next is the $100,000 (estimated) Battle Of Bunker Hill Open Trot on Monday, May 15. The inaugural running last year produced a new track record of 1:53 for three-year-old trotting colts set by Jonas KS and that effort set the bar high for this year’s edition. Nominations along with $300 are due Wednesday, Feb. 15 with a $300 sustaining payment due on Wednesday, March 15. A $200 starting fee is due upon declaration.

Then, on Sunday, July 23, it’s the biggest day of the summer with the renewal of the $250,000 (guaranteed) Spirit Of Massachusetts Trot and $100,000 (guaranteed) Clara Barton Distaff Pace. Both of these races have rewritten track records several times since their inception and have enticed some of the best Open class competitors from across North America to compete in Massachusetts.

In the five years the Spirit Of Massachusetts Trot has been run, JL Cruze, Manchego and Alrajah One have all re-written track trotting records with Manchego also setting a world record in 2020. These performances have helped this event become a trotting classic in quick fashion. For this year’s edition, nominations along with $1,000 are due Wednesday, Feb. 15 with a $1,500 sustaining payment due on Wednesday, March 15. A $2,500 starting fee is due upon declaration and there is an option for a supplemental entry with a $20,000 declaration fee.

The Clara Barton Distaff Pace has been run four times, yet only two mares have won the race: Shartin N and Lyons Sentinel. And just like their trotting rivals, Shartin N rewrote the pacing record book twice while Lyons Sentinel matched the record in her initial victory. This year’s nominations along with $500 are due Wednesday, Feb. 15 with a $1,000 sustaining payment due on Wednesday, March 15. A $1,500 starting fee is due upon declaration and there is an option for a supplemental entry with a $7,500 declaration fee and $1,500 entry fee.

The $2.56 (estimated) million Massachusetts Sire Stakes will reconvene in September and follow the same format of three preliminary legs and a final. Last year’s series was historic as it was the first time ever that the championship races went for a total combined purse of $1 million on what has now become known as “Million Dollar Monday.” The state-bred stakes schedule is as follows:

• Monday, Sept. 25 - three-year-old first leg
• Tuesday, Sept. 26 - two-year-old first leg
• Monday, Oct. 2 - three-year-old second leg
• Tuesday, Oct. 3 - two-year-old second leg
• Monday, Oct. 16 - two-year-old third leg
• Tuesday, Oct. 17 - three-year-old third leg
• Tuesday, Oct. 24 - two and three-year-old finals

Connections of Massachusetts Sire Stakes eligible two and three-year-old horses who intend to race in the series this year should take note that continuation payments for both ($100 for two-year-olds and $150 for three-year-olds) are due by Wednesday, Feb. 15 and the subsequent sustaining payment ($200 for two-year-olds and $300 for three-year-olds) is due by Saturday, April 15.

The two new stakes on the Plainridge Park calendar this year will make their debut on Monday, Oct. 9, which is the off-week for the Massachusetts Sire Stakes. It’s a great spot for these events as it gives Massachusetts stakes contestants an opportunity to earn during that off-week from the series, should their connections wish to do so.

The $40,000 (estimated) Reynolds Stakes is for three-year-old pacers and will be contested by gender. “The Tar Heel” is the colt and gelding division and “The Leta Long” is for fillies. Nominations for both the Tar Heel and Leta Long along with $300 are due Wednesday, Feb. 15 with a $300 sustaining payment due on Wednesday, March 15). A $500 starting fee is due upon declaration.

The $40,000 (estimated) Colonial Trot for three-year-old trotters is the companion stakes to the Reynolds and will also be contested by gender with the filly division going as the Colonial Oaks. Nominations along with $300 are due Wednesday, Feb. 15 with a $300 sustaining payment due on Wednesday, March 15. A $200 starting fee is due upon declaration.

The 2023 Plainridge Park meet runs for 108 days through Thursday, Nov. 30.

(With files from Plainridge Park)