The Virginia Harness Horse Association (VHHA), which introduced a lucrative Sired Stakes program in 2022, announced that 19 stallions will be standing in the state for the 2024 breeding season.

Twelve stallions stood in the Commonwealth two years ago and prior to that, just four stood, including Gregory Pecs, who passed away in December. 

Twelve trotting stallions and seven pacing stallions, including three new ones, will stand at farms across the state this year –- east, west, north and south.   

Among the 2024 class is Doctor Butch, a winner of $1.6 million in purse earnings who will stand in Virginia for the second straight year. His career triumphs include wins the New York Sire Stakes final at age two and the Art Rooney Pace at age three. He will be based in Northern Virginia, at Equine Reproduction Concepts in Amissville.  

In the Central Virginia region, eight different stallions will stand at various farms. Trotter Dusty Winner, based at Charlie Dunavant's Woodhill Farm in Victoria, has sired 33 starters that have earned a combined $2.1 million. Pacer Calgary Seelster, who earned $387,067 and a mark of 1:50.3s, will stand at the Elam Stoltzfus Farm in Charlotte Courthouse. Trotter Armed Dangerously, winner of the Fall Harvest Stakes at Yonkers Raceway as a freshman, will stand at Joe Coblentz's Farm in Nathalie. Other Nathalie-based stallions include trotters Secular and Snow King, who will be at respective Yoder Farms in that area. Trotting stallion Crime Fighter, by Chapter Seven, rerturns and will stand at the Ivan Byler Farm in Halifax. Two new stallions, trotters Climb Higher and Reverse Smith, will be based at the Amos Stoltzfus Farm in Dillwyn and at Gold Hill Acres in New Canton. They are by Muscle Hill and Donato Hanover, respectively.      

Another seven stallions will stand in the Southwest portion of the state, including pacers Artzina and Jeneral Patton, at Michael Viars' Farm in Pilgrim Knob. The former bankrolled more than $800,000 during an impressive racing career and in stud has sired 51 starters that have earned $3.6 million. The latter bankrolled $470,404 with 29 wins and stands his second season in 2024. Trotter Love Hunter, who boasts a 1:55.1s best, will be based at the Cedar Bluff Farm in Jonesville. Trotter Winning Fireworks, a proven sire of 47 starters that have earned more than $2 million, will stand at Tracy Bradshaw's TNT Racing Stable in Bland. The Black Diamond Farms in Hurley will host a pair of pacers, Mr Julian and Many Moons. The former bankrolled $318,607 and recorded a mark of 1:48.4 while the latter is a five-year-old son of Sweet Lou who will stand for his first season. Wishbone, a son of Gregory Pecs, will stand at Adam Akers' Round Mountain Stables in Bastian.    

Virginia's Eastern Shore is represented this year too with trotting stallion Strength Of Victory, a Muscles Yankee trotter out of Rosecroft Survivor. He will stand at the Cliff White Farm in Bloxum.               
 
The Sired Stakes program will offer bonus payments for foals that meet qualifying times and dates as outlined in the rules at vhha.net. Both the stallion owner and breeder will receive $1,500, and if the mare and foal remain in Virginia for the entire foaling year, the mare owner will receive an additional $1,500. 

Sired Stakes races will be run based on age, sex and gait as two and three-year-olds. Elimination races will feature a $6,000 purse and finals will go for $60,000. Sired foals are also eligible to compete in the Breeder's Fund races during the same years, which feature $8,000 elims and $80,000 finals.

More details, contact information and pricing for each is available at vhha.net or by calling Debbie Warnick at 443-463-0917. The Sired Stakes initiative will complement other VHHA incentive programs like Breeder's Fund Races and the Certified Residency program. 

The 2024 racing schedule at Shenandoah Downs will feature a pair of seven-week meets. The spring session will run from April 6 to May 19 and the fall meet, pending Virginia Racing Commission approval, will run from Sept. 14 to Oct. 27. Race days are Saturday and Sunday afternoons with a 1:05 p.m. post. Racing applications will be available at shenandoahdowns.com beginning Feb. 2. 

(With files from Virginia Harness Horse Association)