Horsemen should note that the conditions for two popular early-season series at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, the Game Of Claims Series and the Bobby Weiss Series, have been posted online at the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association’s website, www.phha.org.
In February The Game Of Claims will have four segments which will feature three weeks of preliminary action for pacing horses entered at a base price of $7,500, $10,000, $15,000, and $25,000, with prelim purses equal to the first-round base price and the claiming price going up to a degree in each subsequent prelim. The top point-winners in the three preliminary legs will go for a final (out of which there will be no claiming) of double their base claiming price, with those races to be held on Saturday, March 6 and Sunday, March 7. On Mondays in March, $15,000 claiming trotters will race in a series of the same format.
Pocono’s traditional showcase for developing younger horses is named by the Bobby Weiss Series, in honor of the longtime trackman who helped hone the Pocono oval into a five-eighths mile strip which earns universal praise for horsemen. The basic conditions for the races are for three-year-olds who are non-winners of two races or $30,000 lifetime as of Feb. 1.
Pacing colts will have three $17,500 preliminaries on Saturdays in April, trotting colts on Sundays (except April 4 Easter Sunday; that first leg will be moved back a day), pacing fillies on Mondays, and trotting fillies on Tuesdays. During the week of April 24-27, the top preliminary point winners in each group will follow through on its night to contest a $40,000 final, and a $17,500 consolation should there be sufficient entries.
The Pacing Game Of Claims Series require nominations by Jan. 15, so action should be taken right away. All full schedules, nominating dates and fees, and the general conditions of every series are available on the PHHA website. Further questions should be directed to Rick Kane at 570-831-2126 beginning Jan. 10.
(PHHA/Pocono)