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 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
