News and Updates
May-20-2013
We have approximately two weeks until the June 1st delivery dead line so please send us your Empire Classic entries. If anyone needs a little more time past June 1st that is also ok but please email me if you are going to be a bit later than June 1st. We have found in the past that the later arriving birds do every bit as well as the early arriving birds so get your birds to us. At this time we have 640 birds in the loft, they look outstanding and the health is excellent. We have approximately 350 birds loft flying and another new group ready to go out later this week. Don't forget the Master Breeder Award, one bird selected per team, $100 per team, 100% of Master Breeder fees paid out at the 320 mile race. Most teams are entered so we will have a great payout, if you want in please email me your Master Breeder ring number and mail me the $100 fee. Good luck to all.................cheers..jim
Apr-29-2013

2013 Master Breeder Trophy

Pictured is the beautiful mantle clock that Bernie Bedard has donated to the winner of this years Master Breeder Award. One bird from each 5 bird team must be selected as your Master Breeder bird when you ship your birds to us, the cost is $100 with 100% paid out to winners. Full details are on our "home" page. If you have sent your teams to us and have not entered the Master Breeder you can still enter if you get in touch with me right away. It is a great race within a race, don't be one of those fanciers that in a month or two wish they had entered, contact me right away to enter.................cheers...jim
Apr-22-2013
Joe Smolenaars from the Waterdown, Flamboro, Hamilton area has birds ready to go to the Empire Classic, if anyone wants to get together with Joe and share gas expenses please give him a call at 905 689 1829...................cheers...jim
Apr-07-2013
Reservations are still arriving for this years Empire Classic. We have 765 birds reserved so far and we have room for 1000 maximum. You can reserve extra teams or simply send us your birds and we will place you on the bird and breeder list. Last year with 585 birds we had a total payout of $137,000, this year we could easily top $200,000, not a bad pay day for your total cost of just $200 per bird (perch and entry included). It is not too late to be part of a great One Loft, join the fun. If you have any questions give me a call at 613 475 6052....jim
Apr-03-2013
BC has dropped the HST effective April 1st, 2013, they are returning to the old system of PST and GST. This is good news for the BC fanciers entering the Empire Classic, they will only have to pay the GST (5%) on the perch fees. Now a 5 bird team for the BC fanciers will cost $1018.75 per team.....cheers..jim
Mar-30-2013
Happy Easter to all............ Jim & Judy
Mar-28-2013
Just a reminder that we are holding the Master Breeder competition again this year, when you send your entries to us please nominate one bird per team as your Master Breeder entry. The cost is $100 per Master Breeder entry, due when you send us your birds. 100% of Master Breeder entry cost is paid out to winners, see complete rules on our 'Home" page. If you deliver your birds please call ahead to make sure I am home, telphone 613 475 6052.....................cheers...jim
Mar-24-2013
Our April 1st start date for receiving Empire Classic birds is almost here. We are still receiving reservations and we expect many teams to simply show up during the delivery period (April 1st to June 1st). If you had a super breeding season please feel free to send extra teams to us, we have room for 1000 birds. I use this Message board to get important and timely information out to you, please read past message items for important info and suggestions on when to send us your birds. All info is on our "Home" page but just to recap.....Canadian birds are to be delivered in person or shipped via Air Canada to Kingston, Ontario Airport. Fees are to be sent with your birds, BC shippers pay $1045 per team, Alberta is $1018.75 per team, the rest of Canada and USA is $1048.75 per team. Please make cheques payable to "Empire Classic". If you are sending more than one team please let me know which team the birds belong to......USA birds are to be shipped via US Postal Service to Dale Zehr, 10632 Jackson Lane, Carthage, NY 13619, USA. Please call or email Dale approximately one week before you plan to ship your birds to him, his telephone is 315 771 9081, his email is zehrsloft@yahoo.com USA entrants can pay by personal check in US funds but please send $1070 US to cover my bank charges to convert from US to Cdn. Please make your checks payable to "Empire Classic". If you have any questions please email or call me at 613 475 6052................cheers...jim
Mar-03-2013
We are looking forward to a great year for the Empire Classic. We hope your breeding season is going well. We are only one month from the beginning of the delivery period (April 1st to June 1st). Now is a good time for me to make some suggestions for your Empire Classic entries. Firstly we like to see youngsters sent to us when they are 35 to 45 days of age, please try not to send us birds that are just weaned. In the past several fanciers have sent us youngsters that are two or three months of age and we break them to our loft without a problem, in fact, it is rare that we lose birds breaking them to our loft. We suggest that you wean your youngsters at your normal weaning age but wean them into your own young bird section. It would be to your advantage to darken them for about two weeks before you send them to us. If you want to vacinate them for PMV and Paratyphoid when you wean them that might be a good idea, we will vacinate them for PMV when they arrive at our loft. DO NOT vacinate for Pox. We have found over the last seven years that early arriving youngsters and late arriving youngsters perform equally in the Empire Classic, so it becomes your personal preference. Our American fanciers can ship their youngsters to us ANY TIME between April 1st and June 1st however we do ask our American fanciers to call Dale Zehr, our friend in New York State, approximately one week before you plan on shipping to him. Dale can be reached via email at: zehrsloft@yahoo.com or by telephone at: 315 771 9081. If you have any questions please feel free to give me a call at 613 475 6052........................jim
Feb-10-2013
We are excited about our new format, we are always looking for new ways to make the Empire Classic more exciting for our participants. We are still staying with the TRIPLE CROWN format for our three longest races and we will still crown a EMPIRE TRIPLE CROWN CHAMPION but we have added FOUR additional SPRINT RACES and a SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP. Since we are already training from these locations why not make them into races, this will be more exciting for you and also is another way to recognize your birds and provide some additional prize money. Please see our "HOME" page for full details.............cheers..jim