Purse hikes for 15 of meet's 17 stakes
After a 2005 meeting that produced a record in all-sources handle, Fairplex Park has added $300,000 to purses for its upcoming meeting at the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona, Calif., from Sept. 8-25.
The increase will result in higher purses for 15 of the meeting's 17 stakes.
The most significant increase is to the meeting's top race for older horses, the $125,000 Ralph Hinds Pomona Invitational Handicap at about 1 1/8 miles on Sept. 24. The race was worth $100,000 in 2005.
The two races affiliated with the Barretts sales - the Barretts Juvenile and the Barretts Debutante - will have $10,000 purse increases, to an estimated $130,000 each. The races are for horses that have gone through Barretts sales.
Fairplex Park has a stakes on every program during its 16-day meeting. A dozen stakes, many run on weekdays, have had their purses increased by $5,000, to $65,000.
The purse increase will extend to some overnight races. Maiden races will be increased by $1,000 and purses for $12,500 claimers or horses of better classes will be increased by $1,000 to $2,000, according to Fairplex Park equine manager George Bradvica.
Last year, Fairplex Park handled a record $113.8 million.
2006 stakes schedule
| DATE | EVENT | CONDITIONS | DISTANCE | PURSE |
| Fri.,Sept. 8 | FOOTHILL STAKES | 3YO | 6 1/2 furlongs | $65,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 9 | PHIL D. SHEPHERD STAKES | 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 65,000 |
| Sun.,Sept. 10 | E. B. JOHNSTON STAKES | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 65,000 |
| Mon.,Sept. 11 | DERBY TRIAL STAKES | 3YO | 1 1/16 miles | 65,000 |
| Wed.,Sept. 13 | BEAU BRUMMEL STAKES | 2YO | 6 1/2 furlongs | 65,000 |
| Thur.,Sept. 14 | BUSTLES AND BOWS STAKES | 2YO F | 6 1/2 furlongs | 65,000 |
| Fri.,Sept. 15 | PIO PICO STAKES | F&M, 3YO & Up* | 6 1/2 furlongs | 65,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 16 | BARRETTS DEBUTANTE | 2YO F | 6 1/2 furlongs | 130,000 |
| Sun.,Sept. 17 | BARRETTS JUVENILE | 2YO | 6 1/2 furlongs | 130,000 |
| Mon.,Sept. 18 | CTBA MARIAN STAKES | 3YO F* | 1 1/16 miles | 65,000 |
| Wed.,Sept. 20 | BLACK SWAN STAKES | 2YO F | 1 1/16 miles | 65,000 |
| Thur.,Sept. 21 | GATEWAY TO GLORY STAKES | 2YO | 1 1/16 miles | 65,000 |
| Fri.,Sept. 22 | LAS MADRINAS HANDICAP | F&M, 3YO & Up | 1 1/16 miles | 100,000 |
| Sat.,Sept. 23 | POMONA DERBY | 3YO | 1 1/8 miles | 100,000 |
| Sun.,Sept. 24 | RALPH M. HINDS POMONA INVTL. HCP. | 3YO & Up | 1 1/8 miles | 125,000 |
| Sun.,Sept. 24 | GOVERNOR'S CUP | 3YO & Up | 6 1/2 furlongs | 65,000 |
| Mon.,Sept. 25 | BANGLES AND BEADS STAKES | F&M, 3YO & Up | 6 1/2 furlongs | 65,000 |
*Cal.-breds