Quote:
Originally Posted by Kasept
Lone Star Derby moving to grass in 2011
By Mary Rampellini
The $200,000 Lone Star Derby is going green. The race will be run on turf for the first time next year as part of a 19-race, $2.1 million stakes schedule that was released by Lone Star Park officials Wednesday. The meet will begin April 14.
The Lone Star Derby, which lost its Grade 3 status for 2011, will have a fresh look next season. In addition to being moved from dirt to turf, the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds will be run as part of the annual Lone Star Million Day program on May 30. This past meet, the Lone Star Derby – won by Game on Dude – was held May 8.
The Million Day card will include six stakes worth a cumulative $1 million. It is led by the meet’s richest race, the Grade 3, $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles. Other top races on the card will include the Grade 3, $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff for fillies and mares at a mile on turf and the $150,000 Dallas Turf Cup for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on turf.
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Clever Steve? Why we have so many turf champions in the US? Racing needs to give away 1.2mil to some sorry turf horses in May? I guess if you are Marty Wolfson you are thrilled.. All you have to do is find a decent 40 claimer on the turf , fix him or her up and go grab 180k with a glorified opt claimer.
You think barns will ship out of NY and not running the Just a Game, Manhattan, or Sands point? Where is Texas going to find G3 turf horses in the Summer? Remington, Zia, FG, Delta?
How about this for Clever take the stakes money for these Non starter races and drop them to 100k max. then invest the balance in overnight purses and cut 20% of the dates. Give away 60k to the winner of a non event race were you know the winner will just be a decent horse. Build your purse structure on overnight races so to develop new owners that can enter racing at sustainable level.