Though Grand Circuit action at Lexington continues through Sunday’s Kentucky Futurity, Breeders Crown deadlines for the $5.6-million fall championship series on Saturday, October 19 are imminent. All entries and declarations must be made through Rick Kane at the Pocono Downs race office.
High noon on Saturday, October 5 is the deadline for invited foreign horses to declare into the $600,000 Breeders Crown Trot. French trotter Ready Cash, the richest horse in harness racing history with nearly $6-million (U.S.) in earnings, was the only foreign classic winner invited to compete in the 2013 Breeders Crown at Pocono Downs. The connections of Ready Cash have declined the invite to the ‘Crown’ in order to prepare for the 2014 racing season, which does tentatively include travelling to the Meadowlands to compete in the John Cashman Memorial (formerly the Nat Ray).
Monday, October 7, also at noon, is the deadline for ineligible horses to supplement to the Crown. There are no supplements allowed in the two-year-old division, but three-year-olds and older can supplement to their respective events on a sliding fee scale.
The box closes on Tuesday, October 8, at 9:00 a.m. (EDT) at Pocono for all 12 divisions of eligible horses. Three-year-olds also have the option of entering the sophomore event to which they were nominated or an Open event.
If eliminations are needed, two-year-old colt trotters and two-year-old filly trotters and pacers will compete in eliminations on Friday, October 11 with a post time of 6:30 p.m. Two-year-old colt pacers get an extra day and eliminations, if necessary for that group and three-year-olds and older will be on Saturday, October 12, post-time 6:30 p.m. Eliminations winners will draw for inside post positions 1-5.
Special post time for the 14-race extravaganza in Wilkes-Barre on October 19 will be 5:00 p.m. (EDT) with two invitational races scheduled as lead-off. TVG will broadcast live from Pocono, as will Sirius-XM Radio.
An autograph signing by Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, former third baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies, a convertible car giveaway and much more ancillary hoopla will accompany the richest day in Pennsylvania racing.
For more information on racing conditions, eligible horses and elimination plans, go to Hambletonian.org; all Breeders Crown news, stats and archives are there as well.
Follow Breeders Crown on Twitter @BreedersCrown13 and be sure to use #BreedersCrown13. On Facebook go to facebook.com/breederscrown.
(Breeders Crown / Hambletonian Society)