Harness: Breeders Crown freshman event purses to be $600,000 in 2018

The Hambletonian Society, which owns and administers the Breeders Crown series, will raise the purses of the four freshman divisions of the Breeders Crown races from $500,000 to $600,000 each for 2018, making them the richest events for 2-year-olds of each gender and gait in the country.

All 12 year-end Championship events will be held on Saturday, Oct. 27 at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

Given the Society’s longstanding mission to support and promote the breeding of Standardbred horses and in a continued effort to address the issue of declining foal crops, an immediate boost to 2-year-old purses will benefit breeders, owners and yearling buyers.

“This will be the fourth straight year we’ve been able to bump the 2-year-old Breeders Crown purses to $600,000,” said John Campbell, president of the Hambletonian Society.

“With the spike in February and March payments, we want to give owners an immediate return on their investment in young horses."

Eliminations for 2-year-old races will be held Friday, Oct. 19, while 3-year-old and older eliminations will be held Oct. 20.

The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono hosted the Breeders Crown events in 2010 and 2013, setting new handle and attendance records each year.

The complete purse schedule for the Breeders Crown is as follows

Harness Racing’s Championship Series

Presented by The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono

Twelve Events • $6 Million Estimated in Purses

Saturday, October 27

$600,000 2-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT

$600,000 2-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE

$600,000 2-YEAR-OLD COLT TROT

$600,000 2-YEAR-OLD COLT PACE

$500,000 3-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT

$500,000 3-YEAR-OLD COLT PACE

$500,000 3-YEAR-OLD COLT TROT

$500,000 3-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE

$400,000 BREEDERS CROWN PACE

$250,000 MARE PACE

$500,000 BREEDERS CROWN TROT

$250,000 MARE TROT