Atlantic Sires Stakes to Continue in New Brunswick this Race Season

The 2011 Atlantic Sires Stakes season was in jeopardy due to a funding shortfall for the program in New Brunswick this race season.  However, the Atlantic Standardbred Breeders Association (ASBA) and Horse Racing New Brunswick (HRNB) worked diligently over the past month to ensure Atlantic Sires Stakes events would take place in the province this year. 

In recognizing the vital importance of the Atlantic Sires Stakes program to the harness racing industry, HRNB made substantial changes to its race program to ensure the stakes program would continue in the province.

“We realize how important the Atlantic Sires Stakes program is to the harness racing industry and the entire agricultural economy in this province.  This stakes program ensures New Brunswick horse owners continue to buy local, breed local and race local and this benefits us all,” says Jeff Malloy, Executive Director of Horse Racing New Brunswick.

The ASBA and HRNB have agreed to a reduced slate of events this year and some events have been re-scheduled.

The first New Brunswick event will take place on July 1 when the 3 year-old pacing fillies meet for competition at Fredericton Raceway.  The schedule continues on August 3 in Woodstock with the 2 and 3 year-old trotters.  On August 30 the 2 year-old pacing colts will meet at Exhibition Park Raceway in Saint John.  The EPR action will continue on September 2 and October 1 with the 3 year-old pacing colts and 2 year-old pacing fillies respectively. 

“The ASBA has been promoting the Standardbred horse industry for over forty years and each of the three participating provinces are an integral part of the Atlantic Sires Stakes program, therefore the ASBA is pleased to see the program continue in New Brunswick this year,” says Lynne MacLennan, Executive Director of the ASBA.

The Atlantic Sires Stakes program is steeped in history and has the distinction of being the first Sires Stakes program in Canada.  Last year the Atlantic Sires Stakes program paid out over $1.1 million in purses and the program includes some of the best young racing talent in the Maritimes.  The series also continues to attract racing fans, both old and new, to race tracks across the Atlantic Provinces.

Lynne MacLennan

Executive Director
Atlantic Standardbred Breeders Association
PO Box 65 Port Hood NS B0E 2W0

Phone: 902-787-2869
Fax: 902-787-2214
www.atlanticsiresstakes.ca