Fairplex purses getting raised

Overnight purses at the Los Angeles County Fair meeting at Fairplex Park in Pomona, Calif., will rise by approximately 5 percent in some categories for the upcoming meeting from Sept. 9-25, according to racing secretary Tom Knust.

The percentage of increases vary in different categories. Purses for a maiden special weight race for statebred females will rise $2,000, to $29,000, while an optional claimer for sprinters will have an additional $1,000, to $34,000. Purses for 3-year-old sprinting fillies entered for $20,000 claiming prices will increase, $1,000 to $21,000.

Some categories have remained the same. The purse for a $5,000 claimer over 1 1/16 miles is listed at $9,000, the same as in 2010.

The condition book, describing the likely races for the 13-day meeting, was released last week.

Knust, who works as a jockey agent representing Patrick Valenzuela the rest of the year, said the increases were tempered somewhat by the need to reduce a purse overpayment from previous seasons, when purses paid exceeded revenue from handle. Overnight purses at California tracks have risen this year because of 2010 legislation that increased the takeout on exotic wagers, with the additional revenue dedicated to purses.

Fairplex Park will open two days after Del Mar closes on Sept. 7, and run Friday through Sunday the first weekend followed by two five-day weeks on a Wednesday-through-Sunday basis.