Del Mar--Not really an announcement, but in the condition book..
From the new condition book.
FIFTH RACE CAL BRED OR SIRED ALLOWANCE/CLAIMING
Purse $62,000. For California Bred Or California Sired Three Year Olds
And Upward Which Have Never Won $10,000 Once Other Than Maiden,
Claiming, Or Starter Or Which Have Never Won Two Races Or Claiming
Price $20,000.
Three Year Olds 120 lbs. Older 124 lbs.
Non-winners Of A Race Other Than Maiden, Claiming, Or Starter 2 lbs.
(Non-Starters for a claiming price of $16,000 or less in the last 3 starts preferred)
(
HORSES THAT ARE ENTERED FOR THE CLAIMING PRICE ARE RUNNING FOR A
PURSE OF $35,000)
FIVE FURLONGS(Turf)
I dont know if this is done on other circuits.
I read this from an article by Jon Lindo. Jons opinion is below:
The purse discrimination creates the following negative incentives in regards to creating full fields:
• Negative incentive for horsemen to enter claiming eligible horses in the Cal-bred Allowance/Optional Claiming races due to reduced purses.
• Negative incentive for owners to spend money to claim horses to run in those same races due to the lower possible return on investment.
• Less probable inventory available to fill out the fields.
There was no prior notice given by Del Mar or the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association to owners or trainers in regards to the new purse conditions.
Field size drives handle. Handle leads to increased purses. Increased purses leads to more demand for both young horses and older claimers. It is a win for the horseplayer, the breeder, the owner, and the racetrack operators.
I believe this new race condition is sending the wrong message to the owners who put up the money to participate in this sport. And any rule that discriminates against one segment of the industry while not affecting others can’t be good for the overall health of the business. It will simply chase more horsemen out of the business and/or send them to other states where there is a level playing field. Good luck filling out those fields if there are no owners to foot the bills for horses to participate.
http://www.gamingtoday.com/race_spor...will_they_hold
