Santa Anita to offer 'Ship & Win' program at autumn meet

Encouraged by the tremendous success it has helped spark at the current Del Mar Summer Race Meeting, Santa Anita officials have announced the popular Ship & Win program, which began in May at Santa Anita, will continue to be in effect through Santa Anita’s upcoming 2021 autumn meet, which opens on Oct. 1.

“This program has proven to be a primary driver in our efforts to bring horses to California from all over the nation,” said Chris Merz, Santa Anita director of racing and racing secretary. “We started to see some horses coming here in May and June and Del Mar has done a tremendous job of recruiting, which we are confident is going to be of significant benefit to the entire circuit here. Along with Del Mar, the Thoroughbred Owners of California have been very supportive in the implementation of Ship & Win and it’s great to have all of us working together for the benefit of racing in California.”

The Ship & Win program, which provides a $3,000 bonus and a 35 percent increase in purse earnings for any horse that has not run in California for one year, augments significant purse increases that have been instituted in 2021 at Santa Anita and Del Mar.

Additionally, any new out-of-state horses coming to Santa Anita that meet requirements or that have made their first start in the Del Mar Ship & Win program remain eligible for the same benefits in their first start at Santa Anita.

“We are greatly encouraged by recent trends here in California,” said Merz. “There’s no question that horsemen around the country are realizing that our purses and incentives are making racing here a much more compelling enterprise. Field size is up at Del Mar and that of course drives pari-mutuel handle.

“With everything that’s in place now, our sport is poised to grow in very significant ways and that’s great news for our horseplayers, owners and horsemen, as we’re providing better and better gambling opportunities while attracting quality horses."