Minimum stakes purse rises to $60K

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Bay Meadows will offer 10 stakes races worth $775,000 during its fall meet, boosting the minimum payout to $60,000 from the $50,000 offered during the spring meet.

"A lot of our overnight stakes need help from Southern California," racing secretary Tom Doutrich said. "With Turf Paradise now offering $40,000, we worked with the Thoroughbred Owners of California and reached an agreement to raise our purses in hopes of attracting horses here. When you figure in the Cal-bred bonus, those stakes have a $78,000 purse."

Jack Liebau, the president of the Bay Meadows Racing Association, "is in favor of keeping the overnights up," Doutrich said. "We think it entices people to run."

Highlighting the meet is the Grade 3, $150,000 Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Handicap at 1 1/8 miles on the turf on Sept. 22. The $100,000 California Turf Championship will be held on Aug 25.