The Breeders Crown is an annual series of Harness races in the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

and

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

covering each of the sport's twelve traditional categories of age, gait and gender. The series was initiated by the Hambletonian Society, promoters of the

Hambletonian Stakes The Hambletonian Stakes is a major American harness race for three-year-old trotting horses, named in honor of Hambletonian 10, a foundation sire of the Standardbred horse breed, also known as the "Father of the American Trotter." The first ...

, in 1984 to enhance the

Standardbred The Standardbred is an American horse breed best known for its ability in harness racing, where members of the breed compete at either a trot or pace. Developed in North America, the Standardbred is recognized worldwide, and the breed can trace i ...

breeding industry and to promote the sport of

Harness racing Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait (a trot or a pace). They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, or spider, or chariot occupied by a driver. In Europe, and less frequently in Australi ...

by providing a lucrative high-profile championship race in each of these categories. The annual races for 3-year-old trotting colts and

geldings A gelding is a castrated male horse or other equine, such as a pony, donkey or a mule. Castration, as well as the elimination of hormonally driven behavior associated with a stallion, allows a male equine to be calmer and better-behaved, making th ...

and 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings, are each part of the Grand Slam Prize in harness racing. For its first 15 years, races were contested at tracks around North America. After a 1998 appearance at the then-new

Colonial Downs Colonial Downs is a Race track, racetrack located in New Kent County, Virginia adjacent to Interstate 64, halfway between Richmond, Virginia, Richmond and Williamsburg, Virginia, Williamsburg. The track conducted Thoroughbred flat racing and Standa ...

near Richmond, Virginia, the series has rotated between The Meadowlands (near New York City), Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs (in

Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania Wilkes-Barre ( or ) is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, Luzerne County. Located at the center of the Wyoming Valley in Northeastern Pennsylvania, it had a population of 44,328 in th ...

), and the Greater Toronto Area's two tracks,

Woodbine Racetrack Woodbine Racetrack is a race track for Thoroughbred horse racing in the Etobicoke area of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Owned by Woodbine Entertainment Group, Woodbine Racetrack manages and hosts Canada's most famous race, the King's Plate. The track ...

and

Mohawk Racetrack Mohawk Racetrack (branded as Woodbine Mohawk Park) is a harness racing track in Campbellville, Ontario. It is owned by Woodbine Entertainment Group (formerly the Ontario Jockey Club) and is about 40 km southwest of the company's other racet ...

. In 2017, the series will be contested at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.

List of Races

Breeders Crown 2YO Filly Pace The Breeders Crown 2YO Filly Pace is a harness racing event for two-year-old Standardbred Filly, fillies Horse gait#Pace, pacers. It is one part of the Breeders Crown annual series of twelve races for both Standardbred trotters and Horse gait#Trot ...

Breeders Crown 2YO Filly Trot The Breeders 2YO Filly Trot is a harness racing event for two-year-old Standardbred female trotters. It is one part of the Breeders Crown annual series of twelve races for both Standardbred trotters and pacers. First run in 1985, it is conteste ...

Breeders Crown 2YO Colt & Gelding Pace The Breeders 2YO Colt & Gelding Pace is a harness racing event for two-year-old Standardbred male pacers. It is one part of the Breeders Crown annual series of twelve races for both Standardbred pacers and trotters. First run in 1985, it is cont ...

* Breeders Crown 2YO Colt & Gelding Trot *

Breeders Crown 3YO Filly Pace The Breeders Crown 3YO Filly Pace is a harness racing event for three-year-old Standardbred Filly, fillies Horse gait#Pace, pacers. It is one part of the Breeders Crown annual series of twelve races for both Standardbred trotters and Horse gait#Tr ...

** Run for the Max C. Hempt Memorial Trophy *

Breeders Crown 3YO Filly Trot The Breeders Crown 3YO Filly Trot is a harness racing event for two-year-old Standardbred female Horse gait#Trot, trotters. It is one part of the Breeders Crown annual series of twelve races for both Standardbred trotters and Horse gait#Pace, pace ...

** Run for the John Simpson Sr. Memorial Trophy *

Breeders Crown 3YO Colt & Gelding Pace The Breeders Crown 3YO Colt & Gelding Pace is a harness racing event for three-year-old Standardbred pacers. It is one part of the Breeders Crown annual series of twelve races for both Standardbred trotters and trotters. First run in 1985, it is ...

(1984-) ** Run for the H.A. Grant Memorial Trophy *

Breeders Crown 3YO Colt & Gelding Trot The Breeders 3yo Colt & Gelding Trot is a harness racing event for Standardbred trotters. It is one part of an annual Breeders Crown series of twelve races for both Standardbred trotters and Pacers. First run in 1985, it is contested over a dist ...

(1984-) ** Run for the John Cashman Jr. Memorial Trophy *

Breeders Crown Open Mare Pace The Breeders Crown Open Mare Pace is a harness racing event for four-year-old and older Standardbred mare pacers. It is one part of the Breeders Crown annual series of twelve races for both Standardbred trotters and trotters. First run in 1986, ...

(1986-) *

Breeders Crown Open Mare Trot The Breeders Crown Open Mare Trot is a harness racing event for three-year-old and older Standardbred mare trotters. It is one part of the Breeders Crown annual series of twelve races for both Standardbred trotters and pacers. First run in 1986, ...

(1986-1995, 2004-) * Open Pace (1985-) * Open Trot (1985-)

Breeders Crown Sites

References

{{reflist

External links

Official Site
(in beta) Harness races in the United States

List of Races

Breeders Crown Sites

See also

References

External links