Fairplex boosts purses for 15 stakes

After a 2005 meeting that produced a record in all-sources handle, Fairplex Park has added $300,000 to purses for its upcoming meeting at the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona, Calif., from Sept. 8-25.

The increase will result in higher purses for 15 of the meeting's 17 stakes.

The most significant increase is to the meeting's top race for older horses, the $125,000 Ralph Hinds Pomona Invitational Handicap at about 1 1/8 miles on Sept. 24. The race was worth $100,000 in 2005.

The two races affiliated with the Barretts sales - the Barretts Juvenile and the Barretts Debutante - will have $10,000 purse increases, to an estimated $130,000 each. The races are for horses that have gone through Barretts sales.

Fairplex Park has a stakes on every program during its 16-day meeting. A dozen stakes, many run on weekdays, have been increased by $5,000, to $65,000.

The purse increase will extend to some overnight races. Maiden races will be increased by $1,000 and purses for $12,500 claimers or horses of better classes will be increased by $1,000 to $2,000, according to Fairplex Park equine manager George Bradvica.

Last year, Fairplex Park handled a record $113.8 million.