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Del Mar will offer across-the-board purse increases when the oceanside oval opens for its 2025 season July 18. During its eight-week summer meet, Del Mar will present approximately 300 races with overnight purses projected to be $15.7 million–a blended increase of 8% over 2024 purses. The track will offer 38 stakes races valued at $7,825,000.
With the overnight purse increases, the majority of the track’s owners and trainers will be able to run in maiden special weight dirt races–both open and Cal-Bred–for purses of $100,000 as the track will again be offering its Maiden Dirt Bonus. The bonus provides a 25% increase to non-winner races at the $62,500 level and above to conditioners with fewer than 100 horses on the Southern California circuit.
“We are thrilled to announce our purse increase,” said Del Mar vice president and racing secretary David Jerkens. “Santa Anita is off to a strong start with the new single-circuit structure now in place for California racing and we are looking forward to continuing this positive momentum for our summer meet.”
Del Mar officials, noting the results that Santa Anita has had integrating horses from northern California into its racing program, plan to offer similar racing opportunities to those horses at their track’s summer stand.
Del Mar’s “Ship & Win” program will return for its 15th season, with out-of-state qualifying horses who come to race locally offered a $5,000 bonus just for starting in a dirt race, while turf horses are given a $4,000 upfront bonus. Those same horses will earn an additional 50% supplement on top of their purse earnings for running first through fifth on the dirt, while eligible turf horses will receive a 40% bonus.
“The Del Mar summer racing season is prime time for racing fans, horse owners and everyone in between across the country,” said TOC president Bill Nader. “The increase in overnight purses builds on the momentum we established early this year and is another clear indication that California racing is moving in the right direction. We look forward to another great summer with perfect weather and the very best of American racing.”