The 2011 stakes schedules for both Balmoral and Maywood Park were released today
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The action will kick off on Saturday, April 2 with the Taurus Bomber Stakes for Illinois-conceived and foaled three-year-old pacing colts.
The first 'major' state-bred stakes event of the season will be contested on Sunday, May 22 with three-year-old pacing fillies squaring off in the $45,000 Violet Stakes. There will also be Violet and Cardinal Stakes for Illinois-conceived and foaled pacers and trotters on Sunday, May 29, Wednesday, June 1 and Saturday, June 4 at Balmoral.
Maywood’s first big event of the season will be the $100,000 Filly Maywood Pace for three-year-olds on Friday, June 17. The $100,000 Maywood Pace will take place on the following Friday, June 24.
The first Hanover Stakes event of the season at Balmoral will feature three-year-old trotting colts on Saturday, July 9. That will kick off a busy week of Hanover action with five other Hanover Stakes events featuring both two and three-year-old trotters and pacers taking place on Wednesday, July 13 and Saturday, July 16.
The Southland Festival of Racing will provide plenty of state-bred action at Balmoral on Saturday, July 30, Sunday, July 31 and Wednesday, August 3 with pacers and trotters squaring off in the $45,000-$50,000 Mini Me Stakes, Loyal Opposition Stakes, Big Tom Stakes, Incredible Finale Stakes, Ann Vonian Stakes, Parklane Powerful Stakes, Kadabra Stakes, Fox Valley Evita Stakes, Fox Valley Flan Stakes and Plesac Stakes.
The prestigious American National Stakes will start in August with three year-old trotting fillies going for $150,000 and three-year-old trotting colts battling for $180,000 on Saturday, August 27.
Balmoral will also play host to Illinois’ biggest night of racing, Super Night, on Saturday, September 17. As always, the state’s top pacers and trotters will be on display as they battle for more than $1 million in purse money.
A pair of American Nationals for two-year-olds will also take place on Wednesday, September 21, as trotting colts and fillies will slug it out in a pair of $90,000 events.
October promises to be a busy month for the youngsters, as the $100,000 Lady Lincoln Stakes for two-year-old trotting fillies will take place on Wednesday, October 5 with their male counterparts battling for $100,000 in the Lincoln Land Stakes on Sunday, October 9 at Balmoral. Maywood will also host the $60,000 Cardinal and Violet Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and fillies on Friday, October 7. A pair of $60,000 Hanover Stakes events for two-year-old trotters are also on slated for Sunday, October 16 at Balmoral.
Some of North America’s finest pacers and trotters are expected to visit the Chicago circuit in November, as Grand Circuit action comes to town. Balmoral will play host to the $250,000 three-year-old colt pace, $200,000 American National Aged Pace, $175,000 American National three-year-old filly pace, $160,000 Aged Trot, $125,000 two-year-old colt pace and $125,000 two-year-old filly pace on Saturday, November 12. Maywood will also host its biggest night of the season on Friday, November 18 with the $225,000 Windy City Pace for three-year-old pacing colts, the $130,000 Abe Lincoln Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts, the $120,00 Galt Trot for three-year-old trotting colts and the $100,000 Cinderella Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies sharing the spotlight.
To view a breakdown of the entire stakes schedule, click here.
(Balmoral/Maywood)