Santa Anita cut purses for its spring meet by about 12 percent, Daily Racing Form reported Monday.
The cut follows a warning from track owner Stronach Group that Southern California racing would be hurt by approval of racing in the northern part of the state following the closure of Golden Gate Fields. The company said the purse pool was $4 million in arrears.
Citing the condition book, DRF reported that the cuts will affect all overnight races. Purses for maiden races were cut to $54,000 from $61,000. First-condition allowance races were cut to $55,000 from $63,000.
The purses of some stakes are lower than the company announced in late 2023 after they were downgraded, according to the report.
The Hollywood Gold Cup, for example, was downgraded to Grade 2 from Grade 1 and will be worth $200,000 rather than $300,000.
Santa Anita's spring meet begins April 19 and runs through June 16.
