Empire–Trillium Series Enrollment Reminder

Dear Stakeholders,

The Fund would like to alert our breeders and owners that enrollment is ongoing for the newly announced Empire–Trillium Series, a new cross-border stakes program launched in partnership between the New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) and Woodbine Entertainment.

The Empire–Trillium Series will feature 14 stakes races with total purses of $3.2 million and is restricted to horses foaled and registered in New York or Canada. The series presents a tremendous opportunity for owners and breeders of New York-breds to compete for significant purses while also earning breeder awards for New York-breds on eligible horses they have bred, sold or continue to own.

The series will begin at the new and reimagined Belmont Park with eight stakes races contested between December 2026 and February 2027 on Belmont’s new one-mile Tapeta course, which will serve as the exclusive surface for winter racing.

The Belmont Park portion of the series will include:

• Four $200,000 stakes races on the final Saturday of 2026, featuring sprint and route races for each sex
• The inaugural $300,000 Long Island Derby and $300,000 Long Island Oaks in late January 2027
• Two additional $200,000 sprint stakes races in late February 2027

The Empire–Trillium Series will then continue at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto with six additional stakes races between April and July 2027, including:

• Four $200,000 Tapeta sprint stakes for older horses
• Two marquee $300,000 turf events contested over one mile on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course

Enrollment information for New York-breds:

Enrollment for the 2024 New York-bred foal crop (two-year-olds of 2026) is now open at a one-time lifetime payment of $600, and must be completed by June 19, 2026. This enrollment makes horses eligible for both the Belmont Park and Woodbine legs of the Empire–Trillium Series. There are no nomination fees to the individual races – this is covered by the $600 payment.

• Enrollment for older New York-bred crops wishing to compete only in the Woodbine portion of the series is available for $350 and must be completed by November 20, 2026.
• Horses not previously enrolled may supplement to a single race for $2,500 or to the full series for $7,500.

Enrollments for New York-breds can be made by contacting the NYRA Racing Office at (718) 859-2235, or by contacting Racing Secretary Rob MacLennan at [email protected] or by phone at (718) 673-1872.

2026-2027 Empire Trillium Series Schedule

Dates are tentative and subject to final approval.

Tracy Egan

Executive Director

NYS Thoroughbred Breeding and Development Fund