Report: Calif. purses face more Santa Anita cuts, impasse in north

Purses have been cut again at Santa Anita, and prize money for the north state is caught in an impasse, giving the California Horse Racing Board plenty to discuss at its meeting Thursday in Sacramento.

As Daily Racing Form’s Steve Andersen pointed out Wednesday, the first condition book for the fall meet at Santa Anita shows reductions of 11-14 percent for overnight races. This mirrors the cuts that were made during the spring meet than ran from April to June.

The Stronach Group told the CHRB last year that it was $4 million in the red with its purse budget. After it closed Golden Gate Fields, it said the continuation of racing in Northern California would continue to dilute the pool at both Santa Anita and Del Mar.

In turn, DRF reported Wednesday that the Thoroughbred Owners of California have not come to terms with Golden State Racing on a purse structure for the new Pleasanton fall meet that is intended to fill the void of Golden Gate Fields from Oct. 19 to Dec. 15.

According to DRF, Golden State Racing wants to pay $147,000 a day in purses. The TOC wants $170,000.

“I don’t think we’re that far apart,” TOC president Bill Nader told Andersen. Nader also predicted the matter would be resolved during the CHRB meeting that starts Thursday at 12:30 p.m. EDT.

Against the tide of resistance from The Stronach Group and Del Mar, Golden State Racing was given the green light by the CHRB to cobble together a meet to salvage racing in Northern California. Golden State Racing is the business name being used for the fall meet by the California Association of Racing Fairs.