An enhanced stakes schedule at Del Mar, featuring 34 major races with more than half of them boosted above their 2021 purse numbers resulting in a record gross value of $8,275,000, has been announced for its 31-day stand.
Besides the major stakes, there also will be increases from $80,000 to $100,000 for all five of its overnight stakes.
Major stakes purse raises will be in effect ranging from $25,000 to $100,000, notably including amplifications to a pair of Grade I offerings–the Bing Crosby S. on Saturday, July 30 climbing from $300,000 to $400,000 and the Clement L. Hirsch S. on Saturday, Aug. 6 also rising from $300,000 to $400,000.
In 2021, the shore oval's stakes schedule carried a gross value of $7,450,000. This year's additional $825,000 in purse monies means an approximate 10% increase for black type runners, making it the most lucrative stakes schedule in the shore oval's history. All told, 16 major stakes are worth more money for this go-round, along with the increases for the five overnights.
“This is Del Mar shining bright and I believe our horsemen and women are going to be delighted with it,” said David Jerkens, one of the track's vice presidents and its racing secretary. “Across the board we have exceptional offerings for most any type of good horse you'd care to bring our way. We're proud to present this program and expect it will be well received.”
The track's premier event is the GI $1,000,000 TVG Pacific Classic, which will be run for the 32nd time on Saturday, Sept. 3. The mile and one quarter for 3-year-olds and up will be bolstered once again by four additional stakes.
Joining the three Grade I headliners already mentioned are three other Grade I presentations in the $300,000 Del Mar Oaks on Saturday, Aug. 20; the $300,000 TVG Del Mar Debutante on Saturday, Sept. 10, and the $300,000 Runhappy Del Mar Futurity on Sunday, Sept. 11.
Del Mar also will present its usual compliment of eight California-bred stakes, part of the Golden State Stakes Series that consists of 36 races at tracks up and down the state worth more than $4.4 million.
Del Mar will open its season with a three-day weekend (Friday, July 22, 23 and 24), then have five four-day weeks (Thursday through Sunday), a five-day week (including Labor Day Monday, Sept. 5), then finish with a Friday-through-Sunday weekend (Sept. 9, 10 and 11).
Click here for complete stakes schedule.
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