The initial running of the Wheeling Island National has drawn 65 entries and will kick off Friday afternoon, May 6, with a purse of $140,000.

The stake event will be contested over the 5/16 distance and for pups whelped between July 1, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2014. Most of the entries opened their careers at Wheeling while others made their debuts at Mardi Gras, Melbourne, Naples, Palm Beach and Southland.

The next two rounds are set for Tuesday matinee, May 10, and Friday matinee, May 13. At this juncture, the field will be cut to 32 greyhounds and all points earned will be dropped.

Point totals start over for the remaining three rounds of qualifying – Tuesday afternoon, May 17, Saturday matinee, May 21, and Wednesday afternoon, May 25. The consolation and championship final are planned for the Monday, May 30, matinee card (Memorial Day).

The concept behind futurity events is different from regular stakes – owners make their intentions to race known before their greyhound pups even begin formal training. The owners paid a fee to reserve a spot in the qualifying races back in early 2015, and then made payments on each reserved spot every couple months.

The names of the greyhounds entered were not due until early April 2016.

“I think this event has worked in the past simply because it’s not like any other race out there,” Racing Director Jim Gartland said. “It doesn’t hurt that it usually generates a large purse, but I think people like the format and the fact that, for the most part, they are putting up their own money which shows how much faith they have in their pups.”

Following are the entries in alphabetical order for the Wheeling Island National – greyhound, nominator, owner and kennel racing out of at Wheeling.

Already Platinum – nominated by Monte Jacobs, owned by Jacobs Racing Kennel, Jacobs
AMF Animus – nominated by John Melillo via Phil Harris, owned by Tom Ferris, A Ray
AMF Befall – nominated by Mike Harris, owned by Tom Ferris, A Ray
AMF Crestfallen – nominated by Mike Harris, owned by Tom Ferris, A Ray
AMF Grudge – nominated by Mike Harris, owned by Tom Ferris, A Ray
AMF Mickeymantle – nominated by T.F. O’Neill, owned by Tom Ferris, A Ray
AMF Vendetta – nominated by T.F. O’Neill, owned by Tom Ferris, A Ray
Atascocita Sealy – nominated by George Ulmer, owned by Atascocita Greyhounds, Lester Raines
Atascocita Sig – nominated by George Ulmer, owned by Atascocita Greyhounds, Lester Raines
BJ’s Lucky One – nominated by John Melillo, owned by William Baker/Jason Bower, Jacobs
Blameitonthefame – nominated by John Melillo via Steve Schlachter, owned by Jacobs Racing Kennel, Jacobs
Bravo – nominated by William McCarthy via Ursula O’Donnell, owned by William McCarthy, A Ray
Broadway Lights – nominated by John Melillo, owned by John Melillo, A Ray
Coach Vogs – nominated by Steve Sarras, owned by Steve Sarras, Sarras
Flyin Bold Ruler – nominated by Vince Berland, owned by Vince Berland, Valor
Flying Firewood – nominated by Vince Berland, owned by Vince Berland, Valor
Flying Wolfpack – nominated by Patriot/Taplin, owned by Vince Berland, Patriot/Taplin
Gameboy – nominated by Monte Jacobs, owned by John Melillo, Jacobs
GLS Lover Boy – nominated by Louise Strong via Kenny Allen, owned by Greg and Louise Strong, Jacobs
Holy Mackeral – nominated by Donna Barr, owned by Donna Bar, A Ray
JD Independence – nominated by Brad Boeckenstedt, owned by Jon Stidham, Boeckenstedt
JD Tight Fit – nominated by Bob Hardison, owned by Jon Stidham, A Ray
John Valentin – nominated by Steve Sarras, owned by Steve Sarras, Sarras
Jones Appetit – nominated by Kathleen Jones, owned by Kathleen/Christian Jones, Jacobs
JZ’s Bullet – nominated by Steve Sarras, owned by James Zawisa, Sarras
Kaias Albert – nominated by Tom/Brant Taplin, owned by George D. Adler, Patriot/Taplin
Lady Sasquatch – nominated by Timothy Anthony, owned by Barry Jackson, Patriot/Taplin
Lazy K Problem – nominated by Ralph Morgan, owned by Smith Greyhounds Inc, Rico Racing
Lightsonbroadway – nominated by Donna Barr, owned by Donna Barr, A Ray
Mish Michaels – nominated by Steve Sarras, owned by Steve Sarras, Sarras
Miss Dilly – nominated by John Melillo, owned by John Melillo, Jacobs
Mystico – nominated by William McCarthy via Ursula O’Donnell, owned by William McCarthy, CTW
PG Boss Bandit – nominated by Gary Cossel, owned by Gary Cossel, Rico Racing
PG Over Site – nominated by Gary Cossel, owned by Gary Cossel, Rico Racing
PJ Don’t Flinch – nominated by Charter Kennel Inc., owned by Charter Kennel Inc., Charter
PJ Fast Forward – nominated by Jay Rangel, owned by Jay Rangel/Paul Bitterman, Charter
PJ Ferrari – nominated by Jay Rangel, owned by Paul/Norm Bitterman, Charter
PJ Hold My Own – nominated by Mike Harris, owned by DeLayne Harris, A Ray
PJ Pipe It Down – nominated by Jay Rangel, owned by Jay Rangel/Paul Bitterman, Charter
PJ Porsche – nominated by Charter Kennel Inc., owned by Charter Kennel Inc., Charter
PJ Strollinnolan – nominated by Jay Rangel, owned by Jay Rangel/Paul Bitterman, A Ray
Quick Reserve – nominated by Steve Schlachter, owned by Steve Schlachter, CTW
Red Octane – nominated by John Melillo, owned by John Melillo, Jacobs
Rightinthekisser – nominated by Donna Barr, owned by Donna Barr, A Ray
RS’soutofcontrol – nominated by Tom/Brant Taplin, owned by Kelly/Thomas Salem, Patriot/Taplin
Sa La Ve – nominated by Ralph Morgan, owned by Ricardo Pacheco, Rico Racing
Saber Yale – nominated by Steve Sarras, owned by Imark Kennels, Sarras
SE’s Solid Cash – nominated by Lester Raines via Ursula O’Donnell, owned by Lester Raines/Vince Berland, Lester Raines
SG Outlaw Women – nominated by Phillip Harris, owned by Susan Johnson, Rico Racing
SH Peregrine – nominated by Sugihara/Hardison, owned by Sugihara/Hardison, A Ray
SH Rattler – nominated by Sugihara/Hardison, owned by Sugihara/Hardison, A Ray
Southern Soldier – nominated by Patriot/Taplin, owned by Donald Ryan, Patriot/Taplin
Stars Will Shine – nominated by Monte Jacobs via Ricardo Pacheco, owned by Jacobs Racing Kennel, Jacobs
Superior Chief – nominated by Alan Hill, owned by Alan Hill, Boeckenstedt
Superior Collin – nominated by Brad Boeckenstedt, owned by Alan Hill, Boeckenstedt
Superior Echo – nominated by Alan Hill, owned by Alan Hill, Boeckenstedt
Superior Lucious – nominated by Alan Hill, owned by Alan Hill, Boeckenstedt
Superior Tigris – nominated by Alan Hill, owned by Alan Hill, Boeckenstedt
WW Bait N Switch – nominated by Julia Ward via Steve Sarras, owned by Julia Ward, Ward
WW Extraordinary – nominated by Julia Ward via Steve Sarras, owned by Julia Ward, Ward
WW’s Flat Top – nominated by Julia Ward via Steve Sarras, owned by Julia Ward, Ward
WW’s Glow N Show – nominated by Julia Ward via Steve Sarras, owned by Julia Ward, Ward
WW’s Sin City – nominated by Julia Ward via Steve Sarras, owned by Julia Ward, Ward