President's Cup on turf; Pennsylvania Oaks axed
A significant increase in the purse for the Cotillion Handicap and a surface switch coupled with a new distance for the Larry Riviello President's Cup are the major changes on Philadelphia Park's stakes schedule for 2006.
The track will run nine major stakes this season from late May through early October. A list of smaller stakes restricted to statebreds will be released later.
As previously announced, the purse for the Grade 2 Cotillion for 3-year-old fillies has been doubled to $500,000. In addition, the track will offer a $250,000 bonus if the winner can also capture the Breeders' Cup Distaff, a feat Ashado accomplished in 2004.
The President's Cup, formerly run at one mile and 70 yards on the main track, will now be contested at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
The track's premier race remains the Grade 2, $750,000 Pennsylvania Derby on Labor Day.
One of the Pennsylvania Derby undercard stakes, the $100,000 Pennsylvania Oaks for 3-year-old fillies, has been dropped from the schedule.
2006 stakes schedule
| DATE | EVENT | CONDITIONS | DISTANCE | PURSE |
| Sat.,May 27 | DONALD LEVINE MEMORIAL | 3YO & Up | 7 furlongs | $100,000 |
| Mon.,May 29 | TURF MONSTER HANDICAP | 3YO & Up | 5 furlongs (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,June 24 | MY JULIET | F&M, 3YO & Up | 6 furlongs | 100,000 |
| Sat.,July 1 | DR. JAMES PENNY MEM. HANDICAP | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Mon.,Sept. 4 | PENNSYLVANIA DERBY (G2) | 3YO | 1 1/8 miles | 750,000 |
| Mon.,Sept. 4 | STEVE VAN BUREN HANDICAP | F&M, 3YO & Up | 7 furlongs | 75,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 23 | LARRY RIVIELLO PRESIDENT'S CUP | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles (T) | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 7 | COTILLION HANDICAP (G2) | 3YO F | 1 1/16 miles | 500,000 |
| Sat.,Oct. 7 | GALLANT BOB HANDICAP | 3YO | 6 furlongs | 100,000 |