Claiming

Starting the day after its Dec. 26 season opener, Santa Anita Park will drop its lowest-level claiming prices to $8,000 for maidens and $5,000 for other horses. The downward class-level moves, along with the possibility that Southern California's main meet could add additional dates and/or races to its upcoming six-month season that runs through June 15, are part of a negotiated effort to "give more opportunities for horses that have historically raced in Northern California," according to a license application amendment request by Santa Anita. The California Horse Racing Board...

Beginning with opening day May 15, 2022, all 3-year-olds and older that ran in any claiming race at least once at any track since Jan. 1, 2021, receive a $1,000 bonus ($750 to the horse owner, $250 to the trainer) in the horse's first start in any claiming race at Emerald Downs which must occur before July 1, 2022. "It's important to extend bonuses to all horses," track president Phil Ziegler said. "We appreciate shippers, of course, but we also recognize that some of our owners and trainers race exclusively...

All starter allowance, maiden claiming and claiming races at Golden Gate Fields will receive purse increases of $3,000, starting Dec. 26. "We're really pleased to be able to deliver this purse increase to the horsemen at the most appropriate time," said Vice President and General Manager of Golden Gate Fields David Duggan. "We appreciate our owners, breeders, trainers, jockeys and all of the people who work for them who continue to support our racing product."

Owner Brook Smith, who made headlines when he claimed three horses for $100,000 each out of Saturday's fourth race at Churchill Downs, will enroll all three of those horses in Churchill's Backside Learning Center (BLC)'s Purses for a Purpose program. A percentage of each horse's winnings will be donated to the program to support BLC's mission to build community and enrich the lives of backside workers and their families. All three horses are to be trained by Jeff Hiles. Smith has operated a small stable for more than 20 years,...

Effective Friday, May 28, the voided claim rule at Gulfstream Park has been expanded. "All claimed horses will now be examined by the Track Veterinarian after cooling out, and the claim will be voided if the horse is observed to have bled or is determined to be unsound," explained the Florida HPBA in a release. "After the Track Veterinarian notifies the Stewards that the claim has been voided, the successful claimant has a 15-minute grace period to request that the claim be allowed." Previously, claims at Gulfstream were only voided...