Fairplex purses rising - three stakes now at $100K

Led by three six-figure races, the Los Angeles County Fair at Fairplex Park will offer higher Thoroughbred stakes purses for its upcoming meeting from Sept. 7-23.

Last year, the track did not have a six-figure purse.

This year, the purse for the Ralph Hinds Pomona Invitational will be worth $100,000, an increase of $25,000 from 2011. The race will be run over about 1 1/8 miles on Sept. 23.

Two races for 2-year-olds – the Barretts Debutante and Barretts Juvenile – will also offer purses of $100,000. Last year, the Juvenile was worth $87,800, while the Debutante had a purse of $89,900.

This year, the races will be run on consecutive days, Sept. 15-16.

Fairplex will have a 13-day meeting, racing Friday through Sunday on the first week and from Wednesday through Sunday on the final two weeks. There are stakes every day but on the two Thursday programs.

Fairplex Park’s chief financial officer, Mike Seder, told the California Horse Racing Board last month that the track sought to have “more high-end races” this year. “We’re looking to move the quality up,” he said.

Seder said that a purse overpayment has been eliminated, allowing additional funds to be dedicated to purses. The overnight purses will be raised 20 percent from 2011 levels, he told the racing board.

“This gives us the opportunity in 2012 to have a fresh start,” he said.