The $6 million Breeders Crown, harness racing’s richest and most prestigious year-end divisional championship series, will return to The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania in 2018.
Pocono staged all 12 ‘Crown’ events in 2013, and saw victories posted by eventual Dan Patch Horse of The Year Bee A Magician, Pacer of the Year Captaintreacherous and the richest Standardbred in North American history, Foiled Again.
The historic five-eighths-mile track, nestled in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains, celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2015 and was the first track to host all 12 Breeders Crown races in one night on their inaugural hosting in 2010.
“The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono has been a wonderful host track partner and we are delighted to see them back in Breeders Crown rotation,” said Tom Charters, president of the Hambletonian Society, which owns and administrates the Breeders Crown series.
“We appreciate the support of the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association and the management of The Downs at Mohegan Sun. Breeders Crown night has historically been one of the biggest wagering and attendance nights of the year for host tracks and Pocono has set new standards every time they host the Crown. We look forward to continuing that tradition,” said Charters. “The racetrack and casino are enormously popular with the horsemen and owners, and the economic impact the event brings to the surrounding community has also been an important factor in this decision.”
Total handle on Breeders Crown elimination programs and final nights in 2013 and 2010 exceeded $8 million, with more than 17,000 in combined attendance.
“Due to the success we have experienced in the past, we are excited to host the 2018 Breeders Crown,” said vice president of racing operations Dale Rapson. “The Hambletonian Society was as enthusiastic to come back as we are to have them. Of course, these events can not happen without the ongoing support, participation, and cooperation of the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association.”
The Breeders Crown series has typically crowned champions in every division for trotters and pacers and been the deciding factor in Horse of the Year honours. A Breeders Crown title is one of the most coveted honors in harness racing.
(Hambletonian Society)