The month of February has arrived and the deadline to make nomination payments to major Woodbine Entertainment Group stakes events is approaching.
Nominations to several major stakes, including the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup, close on Tuesday, February 16.
The 32nd Pepsi North America Cup for the continent’s finest three-year-old pacers will take place on Saturday, June 18 at Mohawk Racetrack.
Nominations also close on February 16 for the $700,000 Canadian Trotting Classic, $480,000 Fan Hanover, $400,000 Elegantimage, $235,000 Goodtimes, $225,000 Somebeachsomewhere and $150,000 Casual Breeze.
The nomination fee to the Pepsi North America Cup and Canadian Trotting Classic is $500 ($370 USD). The five other events carry a nomination fee of $300 ($225 USD).
New in 2016, the Woodbine Entertainment Group will host a leg of the Graduate Series for four-year-old pacers and trotters on Saturday, June 4 at Mohawk. The Graduate Series offers harness racing’s newest aged competitors the opportunity to race in a stakes event restricted to four-year-olds.
A purse of $75,000 (USD) will be offered up for both the pacing and trotting divisions during the Mohawk leg of the Graduate.
The Mohawk stop of the Graduate Series is the second of three preliminary legs. The top point earners from the preliminary legs are eligible for the $250,000 finals on July 9 at the Meadowlands Racetrack.
The Graduate Series is administrated by Meadowlands Racing and Entertainment.
Returning to the WEG stakes calendar in 2016 is the ‘Fall Four’ Stakes.
The Fall Four Stakes for two-year-olds offer lucrative purses for harness racing’s rookies and will take place on Saturday, November 19 at Woodbine Racetrack.
The Fall Four is made up of the $565,000 Governor’s Cup for pacers, $525,000 Valley Victory for trotters, $465,000 Goldsmith Maid for filly trotters and $425,000 Three Diamonds for filly pacers.
The nomination fee to the Fall Four Stakes is $350 ($260 USD).
To view the nomination sheet for the events closing February 16, click here.
To view the 2016 WEG Stakes booklet, click here.
To make nomination payments online, click here.
If sending nominations by mail, envelopes must be clearly post-marked no later than February 16 or payment will not be accepted. Registered mail is recommended.
Any questions or concerns regarding the February 16 closing can be directed to the Mohawk race office at 905-854-7805.
Stakes payments to these stakes can also be made through SC Stakes Online. Click here for more info on how to get started.
(With files from WEG)