A pair of highly successful Del Mar programs that its horsemen and horsewomen have found to be especially popular - "Ship & Win" and the Maiden Dirt Bonus - again will enhance Del Mar's summer meet purses when racing resumes for the seaside track's season #86 starting on Friday, July 18.
The unique "S & W" plan will be presented for the 15th consecutive year at Del Mar, serving as a strong incentive for horses from out of state to race locally and intensify the track's reputation as one of the country's top facilities for field size. Nearly 3,000 horses have used the program since its beginnings in 2011 with the vast majority of those horses staying on to additionally race at other California locations.,
The Maiden Dirt Bonus is entering its fourth season at the shore and has aided field size for the track's maiden special weight dirt races, a key element for many horses beginning their racing careers.
The "S & W" program provides a guaranteed $5,000 check for any qualified dirt runner in their first outing at Del Mar. Further, there is an additional 50% bonus applied to 1 through 5 earnings in that initial start and all subsequent starts at the meet. For turf runners, there is a $4,000 check guaranteed for that first start, as well as a 40% bonus on top of those 1 through 5 purses. Here again, that 40% bonus applies to all additional outings.
Perhaps not surprisingly, local owners and trainers have been the strongest supporters of the "S & W" program. More than half the horses brought on board though the plan since its inception have been done so by California-based stables, who clearly see the value of the bonus money and the opportunities to bring fresh stock on board.
The Maiden Dirt Bonus provides a 25% enhancement to horses of any age in most of the maiden races on the dirt. The purse bonus applies for maiden special weight races, maiden specials for Cal-breds and maiden claiming races at $62,500 and above. The supplement is available to any trainer who has fewer than 100 horses on the Southern California circuit.
"These programs are extremely popular and boost field size," said Del Mar vice president and racing secretary David Jerkens. "The inclusion of out-of-state runners has enhanced our racing product for many years now. In addition, the fact that most all of these horses stay on and race in the state is a big plus for the California circuit as well as our local owners and trainers."
Basic rules that go with the "S & W" program can be viewed here.
"One of the many things that makes Del Mar so extraordinary is the wide participation of horses arriving from across the country and imports from overseas," said Bill Nader, president and CEO of the Thoroughbred Owners of California. "These incentives are significant, providing big upside over and above the published purses. It adds greatly to the value proposition for all owners."
Del Mar's summer stand opens on July 18 and races ahead to Sunday, September 7. After the opening three-day weekend, the sport will be conducted on a Thursday through Sunday basis for the majority of the session. First post on most afternoons will be at 2 p.m.
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