Building on its pre-meet enhancements and the success of its current racing season, Del Mar announced July 30 a pair of major increases to key stakes races on its 2021 schedule.
The TVG Pacific Classic (G1), the track's centerpiece race since introduced in 1991, has been restored to its original purse level of $1 million for its Aug. 21 renewal. Additionally, the track's conclusion to its 3-year-old grass series—the Sept. 4 Del Mar Derby (G2T)—will climb to $250,000.
The TVG Pacific Classic was scheduled to be presented this year for the 31st time with a purse of $750,000, which was an increase from its COVID-19-affected 2020 running when the 1 1/4-mile race was dropped to $500,000. The Del Mar Derby ran with a $200,000 purse in 2020 and was initially designated to do so again this year prior to this current boost for the 1 1/8-mile turf test.
Both raises put the races on equal footing with their 2019 levels. Prior to the meet, Del Mar had increased the values of virtually all of its other stakes from 2020 to equivalent—or in some cases higher—purse standards than the ones that existed in 2019.
"We had fairly aggressive projections going into the meet and I'm pleased to say our business has exceeded those numbers," said Tom Robbins, a Del Mar executive vice president and its director of racing and industry relations. "We are thrilled to restore our signature race back to its $1 million level, where it had been and certainly belongs."
Since 2010, Del Mar has joined with its broadcast partner TVG to augment the TVG Pacific Classic and keep it at the forefront of major races nationally.
"We have a spectacular partnership with Del Mar and the TOC and our team at TVG is very excited that our sponsorship of the Pacific Classic is one of the reasons for this purse increase," said Kevin Grigsby, SVP and executive producer of TVG and FanDuel. "Over the last decade, TVG has become one of the largest sponsors of horse racing in the U.S. Along with our investments in distribution and technology, it is part of our commitment to reinvest in the sport."
The track always works in accord with the Thoroughbred Owners of California in setting and maintaining both its stakes schedule and its overall purse structure.
"Thanks to our members, horsemen, and horsewomen and the hard work from DMTC we're off to a tremendous start," said TOC chairman Gary Fenton. "With added purse account funds we felt returning all stakes, such as Del Mar's signature race, back to their pre-COVID purse levels was appropriate. The momentum of continued purse increases in 2021 with hopefully more to come in 2022 is a great sign of the health of Southern California racing."
Express Train and Royal Ship, respectively first and third in the July 17 San Diego Handicap (G2), are two of the leading local prospects for the Pacific Classic. The race could also lure out-of-state interest due to Del Mar hosting the Breeders' Cup this fall. As usual, the Pacific Classic is a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), run this year Nov. 6.
The Del Mar Derby follows the Oceanside Stakes and the La Jolla Stakes (G3T) to make up the longstanding trio of turf tests for sophomore runners at the seaside oval. The Oceanside was run opening day and La Jolla goes Aug. 8.
Del Mar's 82nd season will continue to race on a Thursday-to-Sunday schedule before closing on a holiday Monday, Labor Day, Sept. 6.
