The Media

Cranbury, NJ – Six horses were supplemented to the 2026 Breeders Crown at Ohio’s Eldorado Scioto Downs by Monday’s (Oct. 12) noon deadline, equaling the most in a year since 2014.

The six horses supplemented were 4-year-old male pacer Best Chip in the Open Pace, 6-year-old female pacer Francent N in the Mare Pace, Little Road in the 3-Year-Old Filly Trot, Miss Jum Jabber in the 3-Year-Old Filly Pace, Redland Rocket Man in the 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace, and Strobe Lite in the 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot.

For the 3-year-old events and Open Pace, the supplemental fee was $72,000. For the Mare Pace, the fee was $48,000. The one-time payment also makes the horses eligible to future Breeders Crown events under the normal schedule of payments.

There are no supplements for 2-year-old races.

All eligible Breeders Crown horses enter on Tuesday (Oct. 13) by 10:30 a.m. (EDT). Two-year-olds will have eliminations on Friday (Oct. 16), with the 3-year-old and up events that require eliminations following on Saturday. The finals for freshmen are Oct. 23, with the remaining eight championships on Oct. 24. All Scioto Downs post times for the Breeders Crown are 6 p.m. (EDT).

Best Chip, a son of Heston Blue Chip-Place Your Best, has hit the board in 14 of 16 races this year, winning nine and earning $530,805. His victories include the Grade 1 Canadian Pacing Derby in a stakes-record-equaling 1:46.4 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and the Grade 2 Aria Invitational at the distance of 1-1/4 miles at MGM Yonkers Raceway.

Most recently, he finished second in the Grade 1 Dayton Pacing Derby at Hollywood Dayton Raceway on Oct. 3.

He is owned by El Dorado Stables, trained by Joe Bongiorno, and was bred by Winbak Farm. For his career, Best Chip has won 14 of 54 races and earned $596,459.

Francent N, a New Zealand-bred daughter of Vincent-Mary Niven in her first season of racing in North America, has won four of six races and $155,740 in purses for owner Ecurie CSL and trainers Pat Lachance and Jacques Dupont.

Her victories include the Grade 2 Milton Stakes, which she captured with a Canadian-record 1:47.3 mile at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Sept. 5. She was bred by R.G. Higgins and has 17 lifetime wins in 35 starts, good for $324,567.

Little Road, a daughter of Fordham Road-A Little Laid Back, has finished top three in 13 of 15 races this year, with nine wins and $282,562 in earnings for breeder-owner-trainer Roger Hammer. Her triumphs include the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship for sophomore filly trotters at Harrah’s Philadelphia on Sept. 6. For her career, she has won 15 of 24 starts and banked $360,650.

Miss Jum Jabber, a daughter of Bettor’s Wish-Treacherous Reign, was unraced as a 2-year-old but has returned at 3 to hit the board in 16 of 17 races, with 13 wins and $678,139 in earnings for owner-trainer Brett Pelling.

Her victories include the championships in the Pennsylvania and Kentucky Sire Stakes. Most recently, she was second in the Grade 2 Glen Garnsey Memorial at Lexington’s Red Mile on Oct. 10. She was bred by Let It Ride Stables, Alagna Racing, Big Als Stables, and Bottom Line Racing.

Redland Rocket Man will bring a four-race win streak to the Breeders Crown, with his victories including the Grade 1 Little Brown Jug, Grade 3 Simcoe Stakes (in a world-record-equaling 1:46.4 at Mohawk on Sept. 12) and this past Saturday’s Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final for sophomore male pacers (in a stakes-record 1:48) at Mohawk.

The son of Bulldog Hanover-Granny Hanover has won eight of 27 career races and earned $799,520, with $669,978 accumulated this year. He was bred by Redland Farms and is owned by trainer John Pentland, Murray Cox, and Gary Volpe.

Strobe Lite, a son of Alarm Detector-Shine Bright, became a two-time Ontario Sires Stakes champion this past Saturday with a 1:52 win in the Super Final for 3-year-old male trotters. He finished third in the Grade 1 Canadian Trotting Classic, behind Nix Nacken and Apex, last month at Mohawk and was third in the Grade 2 Goodtimes at Mohawk in June.

He was bred by Glengate Farms, which shares ownership of the gelding with trainer Benoit Baillargeon, Claude Hamel and Nunzio Vena. For his career, Strobe Lite has won seven of 25 races and earned $702,993.

For more information about the Breeders Crown, visit the Hambletonian Society website. For additional details about the Breeders Crown weekends at Eldorado Scioto Downs, click here ↗.

The entry box for supplements to the 3-year-old and older Breeders Crown races and for all eligible horses to declare in to the $7.2 million year-end championship events at Eldorado Scioto Downs Racetrack, Columbus, Ohio, closes next week.

Supplemental entries for 3-year-old and open events are due and payable by 12:00 noon (EDT), Monday, Oct. 12, at the Scioto Downs race office or the Hambletonian Society office in Cranbury, NJ. There are no supplements for 2-year-old races.

Scioto Downs previously hosted the Breeders Crown Pace (1988) and Mare Trot (1986). After major renovations, including a brand new race paddock, gaming floor and grandstand, the 2026 Breeders Crown at Scioto Downs will host a festival week culminating in the Crown finals on Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24, 2026. The event will feature more than $7.2 million in total purses, plus eliminations if needed, a golf tournament, post-position draw dinner, the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge, and other fan events.

Click here for more instructions on supplementing ↗

All eligible Breeders Crown horses enter on Tuesday, Oct. 13 by 10:30 a.m. Two-year-olds will have eliminations on Friday, Oct. 16. All 3-year-old and up events that require eliminations will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17. Eligible 3-year-olds have the option of entering the sophomore event to which they were nominated or an Open event. All Scioto Downs post times for the Breeders Crown are 6:00 p.m.

You can access the Scioto Downs Condition Sheet here: Scioto Downs Breeders Crown condition sheet ↗

All eliminations will race for a minimum of $25,000.

If there are eliminations, post positions in the final will be determined by an open draw with the exception that elimination winners, in an order determined by lot, will draw for post positions number one (#1) through six (#6) in the final. All other finalists will be placed in an open draw for the remaining post positions. Any horse(s) that receive a bye into the final will be in the open draw for post positions in the final. The sole Win and You’re In horse (Birr Castle) for the freshman filly Trot will skip the elimination and draw for post 1-6 in the final. In all finals the winner receives 50% of the purse but all horses that start in the final receive money.

All 2-Year-Old Breeders Crown races will be held Friday, Oct. 23, with a post time of 6:00 p.m. (EDT).

All 3-Year-Old and Open Breeders Crown events will race Saturday, Oct. 24, also with a post of 6:00 p.m. (EDT).

For more information and racing conditions click: Breeders Crown Conditions 2026 ↗

by Emily Ratcliff, for The Red Mile · US Trotting News ↗

Lexington, KY — The Red Mile, in partnership with the Hambletonian Society, announced Tuesday (Sept. 22) that the 2027 Breeders Crown finals will be held Friday, Oct. 22, and Saturday, Oct. 23, at the historic Lexington racetrack. Eliminations, as necessary, are scheduled for Friday, Oct. 15, and Saturday, Oct. 16.

The dates were formally unveiled during a press conference at The Red Mile attended by Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton, local dignitaries, community leaders and officials from across the harness racing industry.

Recognized as harness racing’s world championships, the Breeders Crown brings together the sport’s premier Standardbreds, drivers, trainers, owners and breeders. The series features 12 championship events across divisions of age, gait and gender and plays a defining role in determining divisional honors.

“The opportunity to host the Breeders Crown represents a significant moment for The Red Mile, the Lexington community and the future of harness racing in Kentucky,” said Joe Costa, president and CEO of The Red Mile. “Our team is committed to delivering a first-class championship experience that reflects the stature of this event and the history of this racetrack. Lexington has a deep appreciation for championship equine competition, and we look forward to welcoming the sport’s finest horses and horsemen while showcasing harness racing on one of its most important stages.”

Created by the Hambletonian Society in 1984, the Breeders Crown was established to provide a year-end championship in each of harness racing’s major divisions. Since its inception, the series has become one of the sport’s most prestigious and consequential events, attracting leading competitors and racing fans from throughout North America and beyond. The Red Mile has previously hosted two Breeders Crown divisional championships, but 2027 will mark the first time it hosts the complete Breeders Crown series.

“The Breeders Crown is where an entire season of hard work reaches its defining moment – it all comes down to the Breeders Crown,” said John Campbell, president and CEO of the Hambletonian Society. “For the first time, all 12 divisions will be contested at The Red Mile, bringing the very best horses and horsemen in the world to one of racing’s most historic stages. Lexington is the Horse Capital of the World, and The Red Mile’s history and connection to the very best of our sport make it a remarkable setting to crown our champions. We look forward to working with The Red Mile and the Lexington community to create an unforgettable event for everyone to enjoy.”

The announcement comes during The Red Mile’s 2026 live harness racing season and ahead of the track’s signature Grand Circuit meet. Grand Circuit racing will be held Oct. 1-3 and Oct. 8-10, with first post at 1 p.m. (EDT) each day. The 134th Kentucky Futurity, one of harness racing’s most historic events and the third leg of the Trotting Triple Crown, will headline the Saturday, Oct. 3, program.

Planning for the 2027 Breeders Crown is underway. Additional details regarding tickets, hospitality, sponsorship opportunities and the full schedule of events will be announced as they become available.