Santa Anita purses to begin at same level as a year ago

Santa Anita will begin its winter-spring meeting on Dec. 26 with purse levels similar to the start of the corresponding meeting last year, but lower than at the end of the meeting.

Last April, the track increased purses $10,000 for all overnight races for the final 10 weeks of the season in an effort to boost field size. The purse increase was a joint venture between the track and the Thoroughbred Owners of California.

For the start of the winter-spring meeting, maiden special weight purses will be $55,000, compared to $65,000 last June. A second-condition allowance race with a $62,500 claiming option will be worth $59,000, the same as the start of 2018-19 meeting, but $10,000 less than in the spring.

The winter-spring meeting will begin with four days of racing on Dec. 26-29, resume on Jan. 1 for one day and have a three-day weekend from Jan. 3-5.