Four stakes that combined could be worth as much as $400,000 highlight the September meet at Los Alamitos.
The six-day season will begin Friday, Sept. 15 and continue through Sunday, Sept. 24. Racing will be conducted Friday-Sunday (Sept. 15-17 and Sept. 22-24) both weeks. Post time will be 1 p.m. (PT).
The first of the stakes races is the $75,000 E.B. Johnston for 3-year-olds and up bred or sired in California. The one-mile Johnston will be run Saturday, Sept. 16.
The following day older horses — 3-year-olds & up – will get together in the $100,000 Los Alamitos Special at 1 1/16 miles.
Completing the schedule are the $125,000 Dark Mirage for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles and the $100,000 Capote for 2-year-olds at 6 ½ furlongs. The Dark Mirage will be contested Saturday, Sept. 23 while the Capote will be run closing day, Sunday, Sept. 24.
The Dark Mirage, Los Alamitos Special and Capote were originally $75,000-guaranteed, but the Los Alamitos Racing Association and track owner Dr. Edward Allred recently increased the purses – provided those races draw at least six starters.
The wagering menu includes a pair of $1 Pick 4's on races 2-5 and the final four races along with a $2 Pick Six as well as the Players' Pick 5 – a 50-cent minimum bet with a reduced takeout rate of 14% rate – on the first five races.
The Pick Six will have the standard 70-30 split with 70% of the pool going to those tickets with six winners with the remaining 30% going to tickets with five of six winners.
There will also be a handicapping contest Saturday, Sept. 23 and the LARA will offer a cash prize and a pair of berths to the 2024 National Thoroughbred Racing Association Handicapping Championship in Las Vegas.
Cost to enter is $500. Of that amount, $100 will be placed in the contest prize pool with the remaining $400 going towards a live money wagering card.
Tournament races will include the entire card at Los Alamitos with permitted wagers including win, place, show, exactas, trifectas and daily doubles. Each entry must bet at least $50 on a minimum of five races that day, but there is no wagering limit.
The player with the highest bankroll at the end of the day will be declared the winner and the player with the second highest bankroll will be the runner-up.
The winner will receive 50% of the prize pool. The remaining payoffs: 20% (2nd place), 15% (3rd place), 7.5 % (4th place) and 7.5% (Most Money Wagered).
Two jockeys are approaching milestones entering the September meet.
Juan Hernandez's next stakes win at Los Alamitos will be his 14th, making him the all-time leader. He is currently tied for the top spot with Corey Black.
Edwin Maldonado is three victories away from becoming the all-time leading rider. He currently has 125 wins, two fewer than Martin Pedroza.
The totals for both wins and stakes victories include the Orange County Fair meets (1977-1991).
Entries for opening day of the September meet will be taken Tuesday, Sept. 12.
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