The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association is pleased to announce that horse owner Bob Key has donated a breeding to Winning Mister, to be auctioned off to benefit the MSOA’s Collegiate Scholarship Fund.

The breeding has a value of $6,000.

“Bob Key has been a longtime supporter of racing at The Meadows and throughout the industry,” said MSOA President Rich Gillock. “The MSOA is very thankful of his donation to our scholarship program.”

The auction is currently underway on the website OnGait.com. Terms are 10% non-refundable down at the conclusion of the auction. The remainder is payable upon a live foal. The auction ends on March 16.

Winning Mister, a son of Angus Hall, earned over $1.1 million in his career and took a mark of 1:51.3. He is currently standing at Lindwood Farms in Greensburg, PA for a fee of $6,000.

The first round of Late Closing Series will get underway during the first week of March, with entries closing on February 17. Two days have been added to the deadline due to the fact that the 15th falls on Sunday and Monday the 16th is a holiday.  All four finals for the 3&4YO series will take place as part of the Friday night, March 27 card, with a 6:55PM post.

For more information and an entry form, CLICK HERE.

We will post the list of eligibles once they are available.

The Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission today reminded Standardbred horse owners that 2015 Sire Stakes payments for 2-year-old and 3-year-old horses are due by March 15. 

First payments due for 2-year-old horses are $150 for the Pari-mutuel Division and $25 for the Fair Division. The final payment of $500 is due for the Pari-mutuel Division for 3-year-olds.

The Sire Stakes Sustaining Payment forms are available at www.agriculture.state.pa.us by searching “sire stakes” or by contacting Pennie Dodson at pdodson@pa.gov.

Trainers, Drivers and Grooms Retirement Meetings are scheduled for:

Monday, February 16, 2015 / Noon to 3:00 PM
Tuesday, February 17, 2015 / Noon to 3:00 PM
Monday, February 23, 2015 / Noon to 3:00 PM

Meetings will take place in the MSOA Office. Representatives of the MSOA Retirement Team will be available to enroll Grooms and (1st time eligible) Drivers and Trainers and to answer questions regarding retirement issues.

GROOMS Requirements:

1) Sign-up or renew every year.
2) MSOA Associate Membership ($5.00)
3) Groom’s License and
4) W-2 and/or 1099 Forms from eligible trainers for 2014

Qualified grooms will receive 5% of their gross income in an individual retirement account.

Retirement requirements must be completed by February 23rd. For further info, stop by the MSOA office or call 724-228-3644.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review recently printed a story on former local trotting star Win Missy B, who had her first foal at Bob Key’s Winning Key Farm.

CLICK HERE to read the article.

by Janet Campbell
The Annual Chinese Auction for Charity was held on Sunday, December 7, 2014 at The Meadows Racetrack and Casino. The auction was held in the Triple Crown Banquet Suite which was filled to capacity as more than 350 guests filled the room with hopes of winning a prize. There were approximately 200 different prizes donated by the many, many horsemen (owners/trainers/drivers), veterinarians, businesses and friends and supporters of the Chinese auction. Some of the prizes included $1500 CASH, Coach Purse & Wallet with $1000 CASH, Penguin Hockey tickets, Pittsburgh Steeler tickets as well as many gift cards to local restaurants and gift certificates for Equine Veterinary Services.

Following the MSOA Annual Meeting, the doors opened at 5 pm and the ticket sales began! The spacious room quickly filled up with guests writing their names or sticking on address labels and dropping their tickets in the bag associated with the item they hoped to win. Thank you to Brad Bendis who provided live entertainment while the guests made their selections. Also, thank you very much to the MSOA for providing the delicious buffet.   With over 200 prizes, the drawings began around 7:45 PM. Our goal was to raise as much money as we could for charity. Together, we raised $28,310 this year! This was another record-breaking fundraiser. The Chinese Auction has raised over $248,310 over the past 26 years.

All proceeds of the auction are donated to charity. We support Pastor Joe and the CHHA program at The Meadows, Canonsburg/Houston Meals on Wheels, Avis Arbor Shelter at the Washington Mission, Canonsburg Hospital Chaplaincy Program, New Vocations Racehorse Adoptions and the Standardbred Retirement Foundation.

Congratulations to all the lucky winners and thank you all for your generosity and support to make this year another very successful auction.

From The Meadows Race Office:
Effective January 10th the new Qualifying standards will be, until further notice:

2:01 Aged Pacers
2:03 Aged Trotters

The 2015 Live Racing Schedule is now available for The Meadows Racetrack & Casino.

CLICK HERE to download.

It is time for all members to renew their memberships to the MSOA for 2015.  Please choose from the appropriate form below:

2015 MSOA Owner Membership Application
2015 MSOA Trainer/Driver Membership Application
2015 MSOA Associate Membership Application

A reminder, MSOA members are eligible to receive a discount at the Cambria Suites, Meadow Lands.

Be sure to mention the MSOA when booking by phone at 724-223-5555.

The Cambria Suites is located at 451 Racetrack Road.