Del Mar to cut purses of 4 stakes races
April 8, 2011DEL MAR, Calif. (AP) - Four stakes races on Del Mar's summer schedule will have their purses cut by $50,000 each when the track's 37-day meet opens July 20.
The seaside track located north of San Diego plans to race five days a week through Sept. 7.
The races with reduced purses are the Del Mar Oaks, Del Mar Mile, Pat O'Brien Stakes and Del Mar Derby. The track says the decreases were necessary to stay within the allowed percentage guidelines for its stakes purses set by the Thoroughbred Owners of California.
The track's 11 overnight stakes races will increase in value from $75,000 to $85,000 each.
Del Mar's showcase race, the Pacific Classic on Aug. 28, will carry its usual $1 million purse.