Purse cuts a possibility at Santa Anita

Santa Anita and Thoroughbred Owners of California officials met on Wednesday to discuss purse levels at the meeting, including the possibility of a need for a purse cut before the meeting ends on April 18.

Santa Anita vice president and general manager George Haines said that a "combination of things" have led to concern about purse levels, including a drop in ontrack and offtrack handle. He said the absence of a simulcasting signal from a group of Mid-Atlantic tracks from late December to mid-January also affected handle.

Haines stopped short of saying that a purse cut would be necessary.

"We'll discuss it with the TOC," Haines said.

Madeline Auerbach, the TOC's vice-chairperson for Southern California, declined to comment.

Gomez agrees to ride Richard's Kid

Jockey Garrett Gomez will ride Richard's Kid in the $10 million Dubai World Cup on March 27, trainer Bob Baffert said on Wednesday.

Gomez was booked to ride 2009 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner Life Is Sweet on a contingency basis in the Dubai World Cup, and regained the mount on Richard's Kid when that mare was retired last weekend.

Gomez also rides Kinsale King in the Golden Shaheen and Courageous Cat in the Dubai Duty Free on the March 27 program.