The Pennsylvania-bred stakes schedule received a major boost for the remainder of the year, with four stakes doubling in value to $200,000, plus the addition of two $100,000 stakes. A total of $2.6 million in purses will now be paid out in restricted state-bred stakes in 2021.
“Our revenue has stabilized and the Race Horse Development Trust Fund has stood strong,” said Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association's executive secretary Brian Sanfratello. “We wanted to send a message that Pennsylvania is on the move and the premier place to breed and race.”
Purses have been increased for the year-end 2-year-old stakes, the Shamrock Rose for fillies at Penn National on Friday, Nov. 26 and the Pennsylvania Nursery at Parx Racing on Tuesday, Dec. 7, as well as the Alphabet Soup and Plum Pretty for older runners on Parx Racing's rich Sept. 25 Pennsylvania Derby card.
Returning to the schedule are two six-furlong 3-year-old stakes cut earlier in the year – the New Start for fillies, and the Danzig – both to run at Penn National on Friday, Oct. 22.
Elizabeth Merryman, chair of the PHBA racing committee, says the increases come at an opportune time.
“We're making up for last year,” she explained, noting the reductions to the PHBA Breeding Fund due to COVID, as well as attempts by the governor to alter the Fund, which have since been resolved. “Now that things have gotten much more stabilized, it's great that we can add stakes and put big purses on the 2-year-old stakes at the right time of the year, where they can catch the attention of people making buying decisions at the sales. Buyers are going to look closer at the PA-breds, which helps the breeders.
“We're giving away substantial sums of money and the program is getting bigger and stronger,” Merryman added. “It helps the breeders by advertising the program.”
PHBA president Greg Newell says the boost to the stakes program rewards the resiliency of those involved in the breeding and racing industry in the state. “Being wise with our money and managing it carefully and having the resources available, we want to say thank you to our members and to share with the general racing community the strength of the breeding program in Pennsylvania.”
The updated stakes and their conditions are:
Saturday, Sept. 25, Parx Racing
- $200,000 Alphabet Soup Handicap, 3 & up, 1 1⁄16 miles, turf
- $200,000 Plum Pretty Stakes, 3 & up, fillies & mares, 1 1⁄16 miles
Friday, Oct. 22, Penn National
- $100,000 Danzig Stakes, 3-year-olds, 6 furlongs
- $100,000 New Start Stakes, 3-year-old fillies, 6 furlongs
Friday, Nov. 26, Penn National
- $200,000 Shamrock Rose Stakes, 2-year-old fillies, 6 furlongs
Tuesday, Dec. 7, Parx Racing
- $200,000 Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes, 2-year-olds, 7 furlongs
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