Santa Anita will offer 'Ship & Win' program at winter/spring meet

As part of a continuing effort to attract new horses and thus help to ensure better field size, Santa Anita Park again will offer significant bonuses to horsemen who bring out-of-state horses to run at Santa Anita’s upcoming winter/spring meet, which opens on Dec. 26.

Eligible horses will receive a $5,000 bonus as well as purse money 35 percent above their allotted purse percentage for one start. Horses who become eligible at the 2021 Del Mar Fall Meet also will be eligible for Ship & Win bonuses for their first start at Santa Anita’s winter/spring meet.

The $5,000 bonus also will also to any stakes horse that meets Ship & Win eligibility guidelines, but those horses will not be eligible for the 35 percent purse increase.

“All of us have been gratified at the success of the Ship & Win program this year, at both Del Mar and here at Santa Anita,” said Chris Merz, Santa Anita director of racing and racing secretary. “We’re certainly hoping to continue to attract more out-of-state horses this winter and spring, and given the significant amount of money available, this has certainly incentivized our horsemen to go out and procure additional racing prospects.”