This Week: Arthur Cutler Memorial and Graduate Series leg, The Meadowlands, East Rutherford, N.J.
Schedule of events: The Grand Circuit heads to The Meadowlands on Saturday (May 15), with the $141,250 Arthur Cutler Memorial for open trotters and two $50,000 divisions in the second leg of the Graduate Series for four-year-old open pacers.
Last Time: With $135,000 on the line, Ohio-bred Its Academic took control and never looked back in winning the Charlie Hill Memorial Trot at Eldorado Scioto Downs on Thursday (May 6). The four-year-old stallion by Uncle Peter led gate-to-wire for driver Yannick Gingras.
Getting his own way to a :28 opening quarter and :56 half, no serious bids were made to challenge the leader. Stablemate Mission Accepted (Chris Page) popped the pocket at the three-quarter pole but could not make up any ground. Posting a :27.3 last quarter, Its Academic won by two lengths in 1:52.3. Mission Accepted finished second and Majestic Player A (Brett Miller) was third. W
The seventh annual Charlie Hill Memorial Trot gathers seven top trotting horses at Eldorado Scioto Downs on Thursday (May 6). The Ron Burke trained Mission Accepted is the 9-5 morning line favourite, however don’t discount Whata Swan, who was supplemented to the event.
The connections of 18 horses paid the $500 nomination fee to be made eligible to the $135,000 race for four-year-old and older trotters, but per the conditions, a horse not nominated by March 15 could be supplemented at the time of entry for $10,000. And owner John Barnard of Miami, Fla. took the plunge.
“He’s had six starts this year and he’s been racing in the open at Hoosier Park,” said Barnard about the Swan For All stallion who has taken a mark of 1:52.4 both last year and this year at Hoosier. “Based on his performance I decided to give him a shot there at Scioto. I figured it would be a good test for him and let him go against some tougher competition.“
Standardbred Canada March 15 Stakes Payment Notice
Standardbred Canada would like to remind owners and trainers that stakes payments are due on Monday, March 15...read on
Hambletonian Society March 15 Stakes Notice
The Hambletonian Society has issued a reminder for all those making stakes payments to the for the 147 races currently administered by Society with payments due March 15, 2021 (postmarked by Tuesday, March 16), as well as the changes the Hambletonian Society has for 2021..read on
Kentucky Sire Stakes Payments Due
Sustaining payments for the Kentucky Sire Stakes are to be postmarked no later than March 15. Payments are due for eligible two- and three-year-old horses..read on
Payments are due for races held at Eldorado Scioto Downs this summer. The Next Generation, Charlie Hill Memorial Trot and Ohio State Fair Stakes nominations are due March 15.
Ohio’s newest race, The Next Generation, debuted in 2020 for two-year-old Ohio-bred pacers. The 2021 edition will also have races for two-year-old Ohio-bred trotters. The nomination fee is $10,000 and buys the owner a spot; a horse does not need to be declared until the draw. All four divisions will be held July 2-3.
The Charlie Hill Memorial, four-year-old-and-up open trot, will kick off opening week at Scioto this season, on Thursday (May 6). The nomination fee for this $125,000 (est.) race is $500.