Purse money for the Stakes and Futurity races come from the Agriculture Equine Fund, which is mainly derived from the 3.5% tax on simulcast wagers. The Sire Stakes revenue formula intends to create substantial purses which make it worthwhile for owners to stay or become involved in the Michigan thoroughbred breeding industry. This money supplements these big races with the intention of creating incentives for breeders to breed their racing stock here in Michigan. It puts money back in the pockets of those owners, trainers and breeders that are committed to Michigan. It also improves the quality of our home-bred program which makes for some exciting racing.

Stakes Races

Stakes races are generally any race that has a bigger purse. There are some stake races, like the Michigan Sire Stakes Race that an owner must pay a fee to run a horse. The fees can be for nominating, maintaining eligibility, entering and starting, to which the track adds more money to make up the total purse.

Hazel Park Raceway will be holding "Michigan's Night Of Champions!" on Saturday, Sept 20. Michigan's top 2 and 3 Year Old Pacers and Trotters will battle for state championship honors.

Thoroughbred Sire Stakes was created in 1986, by an amendment to the Michigan Racing Law of 1980. Today, the Sire Stakes are funded under the current Horse Racing Law of 1995, as amended. It provides, that "a sum not to exceed 0.25% of all money wagered on live and simulcast horse races in Michigan shall be placed in a special thoroughbred sire stakes fund each year."

A Michigan sired thoroughbred horse is defined, by law, as "a horse sired by a registered stallion that was leased or owned exclusively by a resident or residents of this state and which did not serve a mare at a location outside of this state during the calendar year in which the service occurred.

Michigan Sire Stakes for thoroughbreds will take place on October 18 at Pinnacle Race Course.

Futurity Races

Futurity races are held for two and three year old horses. Before the horse is born, or shortly thereafter, it is nominated to run in a future race, known as the futurity. There are several futurity races that a horse can be nominated for and pay the subsequent fees to keep the horse eligible. These races are run mostly at our county fairs but there are some at our pari-mutuel tracks.

Pinnacle Race Course will hold a thoroughbred Michigan Futurity race on November 1.

Mount Pleasant Meadows runs a series of Futurity races and Stakes races for the various breeds that run at the track.