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Purse Increase for Non-Stakes Races at Kentucky Downs

Kentucky Downs will increase purses 8% in non-stakes races for the upcoming September meet from what was announced previously in the condition book. Maiden special weights for Kentucky-breds will now have purses of $135,000; first-level allowances are set at $145,800; and second-level allowances at $156,600. The increase applies to every non-stakes race at the meet except the four starter-allowances carrying $100,000 purses as qualifiers for the Claiming Crown later this year at Gulfstream Park.

“Not everybody has stakes horses, and Kentucky Downs gives those owners an opportunity to run for as much money as some stakes offer,” said Ted Nicholson, vice president of racing at Kentucky Downs. “We know much of the money earned will be reinvested in the industry, starting at the horse auctions in Lexington that come right after our meet. Money attracts horses, and horses mean jobs. Every horse that comes to Kentucky Downs to race is a benefit to area businesses, including hotels and restaurants.”

Kentucky Downs operates a turf-only meet, which will be held Sept. 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, and 12. Overall purses will total $15,259,400, which includes $10 million for 16 stakes races. Overnight races are scheduled to average $876,000 a day.

The additional funds for overnight races are split evenly between association money and purse supplements from the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF). The additional Kentucky-bred purse supplements were approved last week by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's KTDF advisory committee.

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Purse Increases for Santa Anita’s Winter/Spring Meet

Santa Anita will increase purses for overnight and stakes races for the upcoming Winter/Spring Meet, which opens Dec. 26. More specifics will be released soon, but maiden special weight races will increase by $6,000 to $67,000; first condition allowances will be upped $6,000 to $69,000; and $25,000 claiming purses will rise by $4,000 to $40,000. The increases are in partnership with the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC).

“There are now many reasons to be optimistic about 2021 and beyond,” said Santa Anita's senior vice president and general manager Nate Newby. “We've been able to raise purses at the Winter/Spring Meet by 10% for two consecutive years now and that's certainly good news. We have invested heavily in change and in our racing infrastructure, which has resulted in better, safer racing, which is our top priority.”

Santa Anita's 16-day Autumn Meet opens Friday, Oct. 1. Purses were increased for last year's Autumn Meet and will remain at the same level this year.

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Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association Announces Purse Increases To Stakes Schedule

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

The post Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association Announces Purse Increases To Stakes Schedule appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Pac Classic and Del Mar Derby Purses Increased

The GI TVG Pacific Classic been raised back to its original purse level of $1 million for its Aug. 21 renewal. Additionally, the GII Del Mar Derby Sept. 4 had its purse increased to $250,000.

The TVG Pacific Classic was scheduled to have a purse of $750,000, which was an increase from its COVID-affected 2020 running at $500,000. The Del Mar Derby ran with a $200,000 purse in 2020 and was designated to do so again this year prior to this current boost.

“We had fairly aggressive projections going into the meet and I'm pleased to say our business has exceeded those numbers,” said Tom Robbins, a Del Mar executive vice president and its director of racing and industry relations. “We are thrilled to restore our signature race back to its $1 million level, where it had been and certainly belongs.”

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