Del Mar increases purses of Pacific Classic, Del Mar Derby
Del Mar has restored the purses of the Grade 1 Pacific Classic and Grade 2 Del Mar Derby to pre-pandemic levels, the track announced in a statement on Friday.
The Pacific Classic, run at 1 1/4 miles on dirt on Aug. 21, will be worth $1 million, the same prize money level as the 1991 to 2019 runnings. The race was worth $500,000 in 2020 when the track slashed stakes purses because of the pandemic and was originally advertised with a purse of $750,000 this year.
The Del Mar Derby, at 1 1/8 miles on turf on Sept. 4, will be worth $250,000, a $50,000 increase from this year’s original stakes schedule. The Del Mar Derby was worth $200,000 last year. The purse has ranged from $200,000 to $400,000 in this century and was worth $250,000 from 2015 to 2019.
The track cited higher handle figures as the reason for the increases.