The purses for all of the events at Xtreme Horsepower 2011 have increased anywhere from 30 to 50 per cent over last year
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Earlier this week, Georgian Downs, in partnership with Standardbred Canada, unveiled the condition sheet for the fifth annual edition of Xtreme Horsepower, set for Saturday, August 27.
The 2011 condition sheet features the best from the earlier editions of Xtreme Horsepower and the addition of a new Xtreme Dash for the Cash event, where the winner takes 100 per cent of the purse. The Xtreme entry box closes at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 23.
This year's edition of Xtreme Horsepower will feature four 18-horse dashes, ranging in distance from one mile to two and a half miles. The always-popular Xtreme Sprint and Xtreme Battle return at distances of one-eight of a mile and five-eighths of a mile, respectively. Add in the Xtreme Rewind, raced clockwise, the Xtreme Shotgun, raced from a walking start, and the Xtreme Dash for the Cash, and you’ve got one extraordinary card of harness racing.
For horsepeople, Xtreme Horsepower will again represent a lucrative purse option for their trotters and pacers. Total purses, excluding hitching fees, will amount to $350,000. In addition, a payment of $300 will be made to all starters that do not earn purse money.
A summary of the conditions being offered appears below. The full condition sheet is available here.
Xtreme Battle: Speed and stamina will be tested in this heat-racing showdown at five-eighths of a mile. For claiming pacers with a base price of $12,000 or lower, two nine-horse eliminations will be carded. The top finishers from each elim will return for a $30,000 showdown.
Xtreme Shotgun: Rapid acceleration will be key, as a field of trotters will cover two laps of the Georgian Downs strip from a walking start. The first horse to cover the one and a quarter-mile distance will take home the lion’s share of $30,000.
Xtreme Mile: A conventional distance meets an unconventional field size. Eighteen pacers will cover a one-mile distance with a $30,000 pot of gold on the line. The Xtreme Mile is open to non-winners of $5,000 in their last five starts.
Xtreme Sprint: Blink and you’ll miss it. The Xtreme Sprint returns at a distance of about one-eighth of a mile. Open to all speed demons, a purse of $20,000 awaits.
Xtreme Rush: A little more distance, but all the speed you can muster. Nine pacers will hit full acceleration in this three-eighths-of-a-mile sprint in search of a $20,000 prize.
Xtreme Rewind: Throw the rule book away, because this one and a quarter-mile dash is being contested clockwise. Abbey Road C is a two-time winner on the trot. This year, we’ve added a pacing division as well. Nine horses will line up in each for a purse of $30,000.
Xtreme Challenge: Perfect for those trotters and pacers that could ‘go around again.’ We’ll add a lap to our normal one-mile distance and double the number of starters for this one and five-eighths-mile challenge. The Xtreme Challenge is for horses that have started for a base claiming price of $12,000 or lower, or for non-winners of $60,000. Separate events will be held for trotters and pacers for a purse of $30,000.
Xtreme Classic: The ultimate test of endurance. We throw the door open to claiming trotters for the ‘grand daddy’ of them all – a four lap, two and a half mile battle of attrition. For those up to the test, a purse of $30,000 awaits.
Xtreme Dash For The Cash: By invitation; one-eighth of a mile. Winner takes all. $50,000 on the line!
Watch the SC website for all of the updates on Xtreme Horsepower in the coming weeks.
For more information on racing conditions, contact the Georgian Downs race office at 905-627-0535. The entry box will close on Tuesday, August 23 at noon.
Mark your calendar for August 27. First-race post time will be 6:00 p.m.