Beginning with the start of the Classic Meet on December 26, 2025, all maiden special weight races in restricted and open company run at Santa Anita Park will receive a $2,500 increase in the maiden bonus award from $10,000 to $12,500, and the same category of race will see a $2,500 increase from $12,500 to $15,000 during Del Mar Summer. The popular program has been in place since 2009, and the bonus is offered in races run at 4 1/2 furlongs or longer.
Maiden special weight races run at Los Alamitos will continue to offer a $10,000 bonus award and the $12,500 bonus award for Del Mar fall will also remain unchanged.
"The increases reflect this year's positive trends, resulting in an increase in fund generation to create this opportunity to offer higher incentives," said Doug Burge, President of the California Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (CTBA). "This adds to the growing success of the California-bred program, which is producing winners at a high rate."
Owners of California-bred horses that win an open maiden special weight race also receive the benefit of the current Cal-bred bonus available in open company in addition to the maiden bonus.
The maiden bonus program is funded jointly by the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC) and the CTBA to increase the value of investing in California-bred and California-sired horses.
Beginning on December 26, 2025, the maiden special weight bonus at participating California tracks will be:
Santa Anita $12,500 (increase of $2,500)
Del Mar Summer $15,000 (increase of $2,500)
Del Mar Fall $12,500
Los Alamitos $10,000
