Summer Meet

California's Del Mar Thoroughbred Club is set to deliver purses above $25 million for its 31-day summer meet, with the daily average purse payout of more than $800,000 the highest in the history of California racing. Overnight purses and the value of 21 of the seaside oval's stakes will be raised by a blended rate of 15%. Among the most prominent races to see increases are the GI Bing Crosby S. and the GI Clement L. Hirsch S., both of which will climb from $300,000 to $400,000. Gross purses for...

Following improving trends in public health data, growth in vaccination rates and the gradual relaxation of limits on attendance at sporting and performance venues in the state, Del Mar Thoroughbred Club announced the return of fans to the seaside track when it opens for its 82nd summer season Friday, July 16. Track personnel are planning for spectators on site when the racetrack kicks off a 31-day season that will feature 34 major stakes. "We will continue to follow the guidance of local health officials and our medical advisors, but based...

Golden Gate Fields closed out its six-week summer meet with titles going to jockey Kyle Frey, trainer Jonathan Wong, and owner Irvin Racing Stable. Frey won 47 races from 205 mounts for a 23% win rate with $803,264 in earnings. Wong, who was earning his ninth training title, had 40 winners from 159 starters (25%) and $764,062 in purse earnings. Betty and Diane Irvin, a mother-daughter team who use the nom de course of Irvin Racing Stable, brought home six wins and were in the money with 71% of their...

With Del Mar's annual summer meet looming large on the horizon, news out of the track has arrived thick and fast this week. On Thursday, Del Mar announced that it plans to begin racing a week earlier than scheduled on July 10--pending approval from the California Horse Racing Board--and that the predominantly three-day race weeks will end with a four-day race week on Labor Day, Sept. 7. On Friday, the track announced its $5.5-million stakes schedule, which this year includes a GI Kentucky Derby stepping-stone in the shape of the...

The July 8-12 meet at Keeneland Race Course got a step closer to reality Wednesday morning when the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC)'s race dates committee unanimously recommended a calendar shift agreement between Keeneland and Ellis Park. The full KHRC board still needs to approve the recommendation to make it official. But that vote is now considered a formality given that committee members passed the recommendation without any discussion, questions or opposition. The next scheduled KHRC meeting is June 16. Bob Elliston, Keeneland's vice president of racing and sales, told...

Keeneland has submitted a request to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's Race Dates Committee for a five-day summer meet, to be held Wednesday, July 8 through Sunday, July 12. Under the current safety protocols, the summer meet would be held without spectators. The summer dates accommodate a portion of the 16-day spring meet that Keeneland was forced to cancel due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Keeneland also will share return to racing protocols with Gov. Andy Beshear's office and local health officials for their approval. To ensure the safety of staff,...