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Fair Grounds Turf Racing to Return Dec. 26

Turf racing will return to Fair Grounds for the track's “Road to the Derby Kickoff Day” card, to be held Monday, Dec. 26. Officials at Fair Grounds previously suspended turf racing Nov. 25 to allow the Stall-Wilson course to recover from damage to its inner portion.

With the portable rail set at 34 feet, fields will be limited to eight runners for the Blushing KD S.and Buddy Diliberto Memorial S. With the same parameters, turf racing will again be conducted Dec. 31 with the runnings of the Pago Hop S. and the Woodchopper S.

“Going forward from there, we will monitor the condition of the course and run a limited number of turf races as the course allows,” said executive director of racing Gary Palmisano, Jr. “If all goes well, as is expected, the racing office will look to add turf races to the new condition book, which starts Jan. 5.”

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Santa Anita Ups Purses in Advance of Dec. 26 Opening

Santa Anita's winter meet, dubbed the 'Classic Race Meeting,' will open on its traditional Dec. 26 date with a new minimum stakes purse of $100,000 for both dirt and turf black-type events. In addition, allowance races will get a boost, with all open allowances set at $85,000 and first- through third-condition allowances run for purses ranging from $72,000 to $76,000. It is the largest purse structure in Santa Anita's 88-year history.

“There's no denying that expenses are up, across the board, in all facets of our economy,” said Santa Anita Director of Racing and Racing Secretary Chris Merz. “Along with the TOC [Thoroughbred Owners of California], without whose assistance these changes wouldn't be possible, we're hopeful these purse increases will assist owners and trainers who are paying the bills on the athletes that put on the show. Additionally, we want horsemen to know that all allowance races will now include a 'state-bred' provision which means any horse that has won a state-bred race anywhere in the country is still eligible for a $72,000 first-condition allowance here at Santa Anita.”

Santa Anita's downhill Camino Real, turf chute, and turf oval are all ready for the meet. “Our turf is in tremendous condition,” said Merz. “With our downhill and turf chute components, we are pleased to offer the betting public and fans alike a cornucopia of turf racing options.”

Six graded races are carded for opening day, including the GI Runhappy Malibu S., the GI La Brea S., and the GI American Oaks. GI Breeders' Cup Classic third Taiba (Gun Runner) will seek his third Grade I win of the year in the Malibu.

“We feel he has a lot of improvement left in him,” said Gary Young, racing manager for owner Amr Zedan. “We have a lot of confidence in this horse. The Malibu provides a good bridge between the Breeders' Cup and next year's Saudi Cup.”

Entries for opening day will be taken Dec. 21. First post is at 11 a.m.

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Monmouth-At-Meadowlands Cancels Saturday Card

Due to a forecast calling for heavy rain, live racing has been cancelled for Saturday, Oct. 1, for the all-turf Monmouth-at-Meadowlands meet, the track announced on Friday. The six races scheduled for Saturday will be extras when entries are taken Tuesday, Oct. 4, for the Friday, Oct. 7, card.

The five remaining all-turf cards following tonight's program will take place Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 22 with the exception of Saturday, Oct. 15, when Far Hills will feature its 101st steeplechase meet.

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No Turf Racing Closing Weekend at Churchill; Wise Dan Cancelled

Churchill Downs Racetrack officials have opted to suspend racing over the Matt Winn Turf Course for four stakes events on Saturday and Sunday “to allow the root system on the new course to continue to develop”, the track said in a release..

Racing on turf at Churchill Downs was initially paused June 11 with hope for a possible return on closing weekend of the Spring Meet. The decision to cease was made following turf training over the seven-furlong grass oval Tuesday.

“The root system for the new Bermuda-hybrid continues to mature each day and its development has benefited from the warm climate and 2 1/2-week rest, but it's not where we want it to be just yet,” said Churchill Downs President Mike Anderson. “Additional time is needed for the course to become more robust and we'll give it time.”

The $350,000 GII Wise Dan S. for older horses, which was scheduled for Saturday at 1 1/16 miles on turf, will be put on hiatus for 2022. The three other stakes will be run over their published distances and transferred from turf to the main dirt track: Saturday's $200,000 American Derby for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles; Saturday's $200,000 Tepin for 3-year-old fillies at one mile; and Sunday's $160,000 Anchorage Overnight for fillies and mares, 4-years-old and up, at one mile.

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