The Breeders Crown, harness racing’s $7 million year-end series, is considering changes to format and venue after the 2009 series

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Since 1999, the Breeders Crown events have been divided into four races for open horses in late summer and eight for two and three-year-olds in the fall, a format that flourished under a 10-year partnership with the Meadowlands in New Jersey and Woodbine in Ontario, which have hosted the events on a rotating basis.

The existing contract ends with the 2009 events, with the open events to be raced closing week at the Meadowlands on August 21 and the freshman and sophomore races at Woodbine on October 24.

Several racetracks have submitted letters of interest to host the Breeders Crown, and the Hambletonian Society, which owns and services the events, will make an announcement by the end of next week on the future direction of the series.

(Hambletonian Society)