The fall/winter meet at Hollywood Park, which begins with an eight-race program Nov. 10, will see an increase of approximately 25% in overnight purses from the 2010 season.
Examples of the boosts include maiden allowance races now offering a $45,000 purse, up from $38,000 a year ago; first level allowance sprints have been upped to $48,000, a rise of $8,000 from 2010; and a $32,000 claiming race for fillies and mares at one mile on turf is now $34,000 compared to $26,000 a year ago.
“As far as I can remember, these are the highest overnight purses for the Autumn meet since I’ve been here,’’ said Martin Panza, Hollywood Park’s racing secretary and vice president of racing.
“Claiming was up 30-40% during the spring/summer meet and with these purse increases we’re continuing our commitment to make the claiming game as attractive as possible.’’
Scheduled for 26 days through Dec. 18, the meet is highlighted by five grade I events and the annual Autumn Turf Festival (Nov. 25-27).
Post time for most days during the Hollywood meet is 12:30 p.m. Racing will be conducted four days a week (Thursday-Sunday) through Dec. 4 and expand to five days (Wednesday-Sunday) beginning Dec. 7.
Three of the grade I events are on grass, including two of the Festival races -- the $250,000 Matriarch (Nov. 25) and the $250,000 Hollywood Derby (Nov. 27). The initial grade I of the season is the $250,000 Hollywood Turf Cup, which will be run Nov. 19.
Two-year-olds are spotlighted in the meet's other Grade I events -- the $250,000 guaranteed Hollywood Starlet and the $750,000 CashCall Futurity.
Won a year ago by Turbulent Descent, the Starlet is scheduled for Dec. 10.
The Futurity, which was captured in 2010 by Comma to the Top, will be run Dec. 17.
Racing will begin at 11 a.m. Thanksgiving (Nov. 24). There are also two Friday evening cards -- Nov. 11 and Nov. 18. Post time for both is 7:05 p.m.
The first stakes on the Autumn schedule is the $100,000 Real Quiet, which will be run for the sixth time Saturday, Nov. 12. An ungraded event for 2-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles over Cushion Track, the Real Quiet is a prep for the CashCall Futurity. Comma to the Top was the first horse to win both the Real Quiet and Futurity.
Entries for the Real Quiet will be taken Nov. 9
The wagering menu will continue to include the Player’s Pick 5, now a staple on the Southern California circuit after being introduced at the spring/summer meet. The 50-cent minimum wager with a reduced 14% takeout will be offered on Races 1-5 daily. There will continue to be a carryover if no ticket is able to isolate all five winners, but there will be no longer be a consolation payoff for those with four winners.
Hollywood Park
