The deadline for the New Jersey Sire Stakes, Green Acres and Standardbred Development Fund’s first sustaining payments is rapidly approaching. Because February 15 falls on Presidents’ Day this year, the deadline for mailing purposes will be February 16.

The NJSS Premier Division will be contested exclusively again at the Meadowlands Racetrack in 2016 starting in May for three-year-olds and in July for two-year-olds. The Green Acres Division, which will only be contested for three-year-olds in 2017, begins August 26 at Freehold Raceway. Once again this year, the NJSS rule is that the Green Acres Program is limited to horses that have earned less than $25,000 in New Jersey Sire Stakes Premier Division earnings during the current calendar year.

For 2016 two-year-olds the Green Acres Division is being replaced by a new series—the New Jersey Standardbred Development Fund. The SDF is open to all horses sired by a New Jersey-based stallion as well as the offspring of mares who have resided in New Jersey for a minimum of 150 days, regardless of where the sire stands. Previous registration of the mare while she is in foal and nomination are required to establish eligibility. The first SDF race will be held on September 23 at Freehold Raceway, the location of all races in the series.

The NJSS Premier Division’s first sustaining payment remains $300 for both two-year-olds and three-year-olds. The initial Green Acres Division payment for three-year-olds also remains $100. $100 is also the amount of the first sustaining fee for two-year-olds that are eligible to the Standardbred Development Fund.

Also on February 16, a $650 supplemental 2014 yearling nomination (for foals of 2013) can be made for eligibility to the New Jersey Sire Stakes Premier Division and the SDF. Those fees are in addition to the sustaining payments for two-year-olds also due on February 16. The supplemental fee for the Sire Stakes Premier division is $850 if the foal was produced by an out-of-state breeding.

The first two-year-old sustaining payments must be made in order to keep the horse eligible as a three-year-old in 2017 to both the Premier Division and the Standardbred Development Fund, even if the horse does not race in 2016 as a two-year-old. Supplemental yearling nominations are also due February 17 for the NJSS-sponsored 2016 Lou Babic Open Pace ($500) and Babic Filly Pace ($400).

Sustaining payment and supplemental nomination forms, as well as race dates and other information, may be found on the NJSS website at newjerseysirestakes.com.

All payments must be in U. S. funds. No late payments will be accepted and no billing notices will be mailed. Certified mail is strongly recommended to NJSS, P.O. Box 330, Trenton, NJ 08625.

(NJSS)