Del Mar adjusts purse structure for juvenile maiden races
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Del Mar has altered the conditions of maiden races on dirt for 2-year-olds for its summer meeting to allow horses from all stables to run for maximum prize money, according to a statement issued on Wednesday.
This summer, maiden races for 2-year-olds on dirt will be worth $100,000. Last year, the track offered maiden races on dirt for 2-year-olds with a purse of $80,000.
An additional $20,000 was available to runners who finished first through fifth and were from stables with 100 or less horses in training in Southern California. The clause eliminated a small number of trainers from racing for maximum purse levels, notably Bob Baffert and Phil D’Amato, a track official said.
This year, there are no restrictions based on stable size.
In an effort to increase opportunities for 2-year-old maidens, Del Mar will offer maiden races with a purse of $70,000 for horses that were sold or listed as bought back for $150,000 at auctions.
Del Mar offered variations of median auction races last fall. In early November, sprints were run for 2-year-olds that had raced for a claiming price in 2025, were entered to be claimed for $62,500, or were listed as sold or bought back for $100,000 or $150,000. The auction restriction of $100,000 was in a race for fillies, while the $150,000 restriction was in a race for open company.
Aside from 2-year-old dirt races, maiden races for 3-year-olds and older horses on either surface and 2-year-olds on turf will be $80,000 this summer, according to the track’s statement.
Del Mar’s summer meeting runs from July 17 to Sept. 7.
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