Del Mar's 'Ship & Win Program' will increase for the seaside track's 82nd season, beginning Friday, July 16. Ship & Win will provide horsemen and horsewomen who bring in out-of-state runners to race at Del Mar this summer a $4,000 starter bonus for their initial outing with a further 50% purse supplement for all dirt starters and a 40% purse supplement for all races run on turf. Those are the highest incentives provided since the program began in 2011. The purse bonuses extend to additional starts at the summer meet and are designed to enhance all purses won by first through fifth finishers.
“The Ship & Win program has been essential to Del Mar's racing program and for racing in California,” said Del Mar's racing secretary David Jerkens. “Our local owners and trainers are our biggest backers of the program, providing over 70% of the runners. Doubling the bonus levels this year has got people really excited. My phone is ringing off the hook.”
Del Mar, working in conjunction with Santa Anita to attract runners to Southern California, will extend purse benefits to a horse which makes its initial Ship & Win start in either May or June at Santa Anita. The same horse may make up to two starts during that period and still have its purse benefits extended through the Del Mar summer meet.
Ship & Win Rules:
- Horses must have made their last start outside of California
- Horses cannot have raced in California in the past 12 months
- First-time starters are not eligible
- $4,000 first-race starter fee to all qualifying horses 50% purse bonus for dirt finishers first through fifth; 40% purse bonus for turf finishers; bonuses stay the same for subsequent starts at the meet
- If a Ship & Win horse is acquired (or claimed) after its initial S & W start, the original owner earns purse bonuses for subsequent outings through the summer meet
- Stakes runners (including overnight stakes) are not eligible for the 50% or 40% purse supplement, but will receive the $4,000 starter bonus
Del Mar's 31-day summer meet concludes Labor Day Monday, Sept. 6. For more information, click here.
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