The 2025 Pennsylvania fair harness racing circuit, featuring the Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes program, begins on Wednesday, June 25 at the Big Butler Fairgrounds, located in this west central Pennsylvania borough.
Pennsylvania law provides for a set of Fair Sire Stakes during the operating period of each applying fair in the state, plus five “Two-Day Sire Stakes” meets at facilities not at that time connected with hosting a fair. Butler’s action matches up with the fair dates there; the first two-day event will take place at the Lycoming County fairgrounds on July 2-3, with the “regular” meet associated with the fair following a week later (July 9-10).
Pennsylvania’s Fair Sire Stakes are divided into “A” and “B” divisions, with starting fees ($75 USD and $50 USD, respectively) added to the purses. “A” races have added money of $7,500 USD, $5,000 USD and $3,750 USD for one, two or three+ divisions while all “B” races start from a base of $2,500 USD. “A”-level horses will earn points based on their finishing positions; the top “A” point earners with five fair starts (including both “A” and “B” levels) who enter will race for $25,000 USD in each of the eight Pennsylvania Fair Sire Stakes Championships, to be held Monday, Oct. 13 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania.
The Butler races will begin at 1 p.m. each day. The Wednesday program will feature all two-year-olds, with eight events guaranteeing that there will be eight first-time visitors to the winner's circle at the end of their miles.
On Thursday in the three-year-old action, two of last year’s Fair Sire Stakes Championship winners will be racing, both from the barn of Tony and Linda Schadel: male trotter Lionheart Hanover, beaten just a neck in a 1:55.4 mile at Pocono on Tuesday, and pacing filly Milagro, who set a 1:54.2 stakes record in her Championship win and who has been facing high-level pari-mutuel stakes opposition this season.
Tony Schadel’s brother Todd, who has been the top gun on the PA fair circuit in the last few years, has many from his stable in to go, and North America’s all-time training statistical champion Ron Burke, based at The Meadows, has a few chancy prospects entered in the Butler fair contests.
If the weather prevents the racing of any live cards, announcements will immediately be distributed.
Many of the 2025 fair racing programs are presently scheduled for livestreaming through the Pennsylvania Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association website at pafairsracing.org. Check back with this site for upcoming scheduled broadcasts as the coverage is finalized.
(Pennsylvania Fair Harness Horsemen’s Association, Meadows Standardbred Owners Association & Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association)