Officials with the Michigan Harness Horsemen’s Association have announced the 2018 early-closing colt stakes program for Michigan-sired and Michigan-bred horses, which will be contested at Northville Downs and at county fair meetings across the state.
A drone captures the action while high above Northville Downs (Image courtesy Northville Downs)
Northville Downs will host Michigan Sire Stakes and Great Lakes Stakes events for two- and three-year-olds by Michigan sires. Each sire stakes division will carry an estimated $22,000 purse, while the inaugural editions of the Great Lakes Stakes will be worth an estimated $7,000 per division.
Additionally, the Michigan Breeders Stakes and early-closing colt stakes will be open to Michigan-sired and Michigan-bred horses. For the purposes of these events, ‘Michigan-bred’ is defined as a foal from a mare who was wholly owned or leased by Michigan residents at the time of her conception. The Breeders Stakes will be raced at Northville for an estimated $11,000 per division, while the early-closing colt stakes will carry an estimated purse of $6,700 per division, racing one week at Northville Downs and the remaining seven events to be held at county fairs statewide. The first nomination payment for the early-closing colt stakes program is due February 15.
Nomination forms will be available at mhha.com, as will a complete schedule once the fair schedule and purses are finalized by the Michigan Department of Agriculture.
Horsepeople with questions about their horses’ eligibility are advised to contact the MHHA office via email at [email protected] or via phone at 517-349-2920.
(Michigan Harness Horsemen's Association)