Three-year-old pacing fillies from across the Maritimes will meet for the first Atlantic Sires Stakes races of the 2009 season on Monday, May 18, at Fredericton

Raceway.

Monday’s card of harness racing is also the first of the season for the Fredericton track. “It’s a wonderful way to launch the season – to have the first stake races take place at Canada’s oldest racetrack,” says Jamie Hachey, President of Horse Racing New Brunswick.

“People are excited and we expect a good crowd for the holiday card of racing,” adds Hachey.

The three-year-old fillies will go in two “A” divisions for a substantial purse of $13,280. There will also be one “B” division competing for a $2,500 purse.

Atlantic Sires Stakes races will take place at eight racetracks in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island this year. Fillies and colts earning the most points throughout the season have the opportunity to participate in the Atlantic Breeders Crown, which takes place on Prince Edward Island in October.

The Atlantic Sires Stakes program showcases the best young horses in the region and has been promoting the sport of harness racing for owners, breeders and racing fans for over forty years.

The Atlantic Sires Stakes program is sponsored by the Atlantic Standardbred Breeders Association. The newly appointed ASBA Executive Officers for the coming year are: President - Morah Kerr; Vice President New Brunswick - Normand Leger; Vice President Nova Scotia - David Ratchford; Vice President Prince Edward Island - Eldred Nicholson; and Secretary/Treasurer - Wayne MacRae. The Directors are Robert Balcom, Andre Moeller, Dale Sobey and Wendell Williams.

Post time at Fredericton Raceway on Monday is 1 p.m. To view Monday's entries, click here.

For a complete schedule of Atlantic Sires Stakes events for 2009, visit www.atlanticsiresstakes.ca.

(Atlantic Standardbred Breeders Association)