The Atlantic Standardbred Breeders Association (ASBA) would like to inform participants of changes to the Atlantic Sires Stakes schedule for two and three-year-old pacing colt and filly divisions. 

ASBA announced on Friday, May 23 that an Atlantic Sires Stakes leg for the two and three-year-old pacing colts and fillies will be removed from the schedule this racing season at Nova Scotia tracks due to decreased funding from the Nova Scotia Harness Racing Industry Association (NSHRIA). This has required ASBA to reduce the stakes from five legs to four legs for all pacing colt and filly divisions and will result in only two legs being raced in Nova Scotia instead of three legs as in previous years.

ASBA stated that the decrease in funding was communicated after the ASBA Annual General Meeting, and regrettably after exhausting all avenues to keep the third leg in Nova Scotia, the difficult decision was made to eliminate it for this stakes season.

Moving forward, ASBA stated that it will continue discussions with NSHRIA and look at opportunities for next year's stakes season. ASBA indicated that its priority is to keep the integrity of the stakes and make decisions based on the best interest of breeders, stallion owners, participants and members of the Atlantic Sires Stakes program.  

The legs that will be eliminated from the schedule are as follows:

• July 4 - Truro Raceway -Two-year-old pacing fillies
• Sept. 20 - Northside Downs - Three-year-old pacing colts and fillies        
• Sept. 28 - Inverness Raceway - Two-year-old pacing colts

(With files from ASBA)