$100,000 grass sprint added to stakes schedule
SAN MATEO, Calif. - Bay Meadows will offer 11 stakes worth $830,000 during its 33-day fall meeting, which begins Aug. 26.
The highlight of the meet is the Grade 3, $125,000 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Two $100,000 California-bred turf stakes are also scheduled, the California Turf Championship at one mile on Labor Day and a new five-furlong sprint on Sept. 24, the California Turf Sprint Championship, which replaces the California Sprint Championship on the main track.
Bay Meadows will also run two stakes, the Earlene McCabe Derby and the Governor's Handicap, that were traditionally run at the State Fair meet. There is no Thoroughbred racing this year at the State Fair.
"We're pleased that we were able to raise stakes minimums up to $60,000," racing secretary Tom Doutrich said. "And the overnight stakes are worth even more to Cal-breds with the Cal-bred incentives."
Missing from the traditional Bay Meadows fall lineup is the Grade 3 Bay Meadows Derby. There are also no main-track sprints for older runners of either sex.
2005 stakes schedule
| DATE | EVENT | CONDITIONS | DISTANCE | PURSE |
| Sat.,Sept. 3 | Hillsborough Handicap | 3 YO & Up, F&M | 1 mile (T) | $60,000 |
| Sun.,Sept. 4 | Earlene McCabe Derby | 3 YO | 6 furlongs | 70,000 |
| Mon.,Sept. 5 | California Turf Championship | 3YO & Up* | 1 mile (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 10 | Monterey Handicap | 3YO & Up, F&M | 5 furlongs (T) | 60,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 17 | Palo Alto Handicap | 3YO fillies | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 60,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 24 | Cal. Turf Sprint Championship | 3YO & Up* | 5 furlongs (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 1 | Bay Meadows B.C. Handicap (G3) | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 125,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 8 | Autumn Leaves Handicap | 3YO & Up F&M | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 75,000 |
| Sun.,Oct. 9 | Carmel Stakes | 2 YO F | 1 mile | 60,000 |
| Mon.,Oct. 10 | Governor's Handicap | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 60,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 15 | Bay Meadows Juvenile | 2 YO | 1 mile | 60,000 |
*Cal-breds