Philly Park boosts stakes, daily purses

The purse for this fall's Grade 2 Fitz Dixon Cotillion Handicap has been raised by $250,000, making it worth $750,000, as part of a series of purse increases announced Monday by Philadelphia Park.

In addition to the Sept. 22 Dixon Cotillion, designed as prep for the Breeders' Cup, four other stakes on the 2007 calendar will also get purse boosts. The My Juliet receives a $150,000 hike to $300,000, while the Gallant Bob goes from $150,000 to $200,000. Both races are Sept. 29.

The Turf Monster Handicap on Sept. 3 and the Larry Riviello Presidents Cup on Sept. 15 will now be worth $200,000 apiece, a $50,000 increase.

The track also intends to raise daily purses 27.2 percent, effective July 14. As a result, average daily purses will go from $165,000 to $210,000.

As examples of the increases, maiden special weight races will go from $28,000 to $34,000 and first-level allowance horses will compete for $37,000, compared with $30,000 previously.