Plainridge Park: $3.27 million stakes slate richest in state history

The continuously improving harness racing program in Massachusetts will hit another milestone this year after Plainridge Park announced it will add two new stakes to their already stellar schedule. The added purses from those events will push the total estimated value of the 2023 stakes to $3.27 million, making it the most lucrative offering of stakes prizes in the history of harness racing in New England.

Plainridge Park kicks off its live racing season on Monday (Apr. 10) and the stake action begins only three weeks later.

First up is the $100,000 (E) Paul Revere Open Pace for 3-year-olds which will be held on Thursday (May 4) and is the first major test of the year for sophomore pacers. Nominations, along with $300, are due Wednesday (Feb. 15) with a $300 sustaining payment due on Wednesday (Mar. 15). A $200 starting fee is due upon declaration.

Next is the $100,000 (E) Battle Of Bunker Hill Open Trot on Monday (May 15). The inaugural running last year produced a new track record of 1:53 for 3-year-old trotting colts set by Jonas KS and that effort set the bar high for this year's edition. Nominations along with $300 are due Wednesday (Feb. 15) with a $300 sustaining payment due on Wednesday (Mar. 15). A $200 starting fee is due upon declaration.

Then on Sunday (July 23), it's the biggest day of the summer with the renewal of the $250,000 (G) Spirit Of Massachusetts Trot and $100,000 (G) Clara Barton Distaff Pace. Both of these races have rewritten track records several times since their inception and have enticed some of the best Open class competitors from across North America to compete in Massachusetts.

In the five years the Spirit Of Massachusetts Trot has been run, JL Cruze, Manchego and Alrajah One have all re-written track trotting records, with Manchego also setting a world record in 2020. These performances have helped this event become a trotting classic in quick fashion. For this year's edition, nominations along with $1,000 are due Wednesday (Feb. 15) with a $1,500 sustaining payment due on Wednesday (Mar. 15). A $2,500 starting fee is due upon declaration and there is an option for a supplemental entry with a $20,000 declaration fee.

The Clara Barton Distaff Pace has been run four times, yet only two mares have won the race: Shartin N and Lyons Sentinel. And just like their trotting rivals, Shartin N rewrote the pacing record book twice while Lyons Sentinel matched the record in her initial victory. This year's nominations along with $500 are due Wednesday (Feb. 15) with a $1,000 sustaining payment due on Wednesday (Mar. 15). A $1,500 starting fee is due upon declaration and there is an option for a supplemental entry with a $7,500 declaration fee and $1,500 entry fee.

The $2.56 (E) million Massachusetts Sire Stakes will reconvene in September and follow the same format of three preliminary legs and a final. Last year's series was historic as it was the first time ever that the championship races went for a total combined purse of $1 million on what has now become known as "Million Dollar Monday". The state-bred stake schedule is as follows:

Monday (Sept. 25): 3-year-old First Leg

Tuesday (Sept. 26): 2-year-old First Leg

Monday (Oct. 2): 3-year-old Second Leg

Tuesday (Oct. 3): 2-year-old Second Leg

Monday (Oct. 16): 2-year-old Third Leg

Tuesday (Oct. 17): 3-year-old Third Leg

Tuesday (Oct. 24): 2 and 3-year-old Finals

Connections of Massachusetts Sire Stake eligible 2 and 3-year-old horses who intend to race in the series this year should take note that continuation payments for both ($100 for 2-year-olds and $150 for 3-year-olds) are due by Wednesday (Feb. 15) and the subsequent sustaining payment ($200 for 2-year-olds and $300 for 3-year-olds) is due by Saturday (Apr. 15).

The two new stakes on the Plainridge Park calendar this year will make their debut on Monday (Oct. 9), which is the off-week for the Massachusetts Sire Stakes. It's a great spot for these events as it gives Mass-stake contestants an opportunity to earn during that off-week from the series, should their connections wish to do so.

The $40,000 (E) Reynolds Stake is for 3-year-old pacers and will be contested by gender. "The Tar Heel" is the colt and gelding division and "The Leta Long" is for fillies. Nominations for both the Tar Heel and Leta Long along with $300 are due Wednesday (Feb. 15) with a $300 sustaining payment due on Wednesday (Mar. 15). A $500 starting fee is due upon declaration.

The $40,000 (E) Colonial Trot for 3-year-old trotters is the companion stake to the Reynolds and will also be contested by gender with the filly division going as the Colonial Oaks. Nominations along with $300 are due Wednesday (Feb. 15) with a $300 sustaining payment due on Wednesday (Mar. 15). A $200 starting fee is due upon declaration.

The 2023 Plainridge Park meet runs for 108 days through Thursday (Nov. 30).

-edited release (By Tim Bojarski for Plainridge Park)