Belmont, Saratoga stakes receive purse bumps

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) has released the stakes

schedules and purse structures for the 2012 Belmont Park spring and Saratoga

meets.

Stakes purses during the 56-day Belmont spring meet will increase

approximately $1.9 million, or 26.6 percent, to $9.05 million in 2012, while

stakes purses during the 40-day Saratoga meet will increase approximately $2.85

million, or 27 percent, to $13.35 million in 2012.

Purses for overnight races -- overnight stakes, allowance, claiming, and

maiden special weights -- will increase approximately $8.7 million during the

Belmont spring meet and approximately $7.7 million during the Saratoga meet.

Average daily purses, including stakes and overnight races, will go from

approximately $430,000 to $620,000 (44 percent increase) for the 2012 Belmont

spring meet and from approximately $670,000 to $930,000 (39 percent increase)

for the 2012 Saratoga meet.

"The purse increases for overnight and stakes races for the upcoming Belmont

Park and Saratoga meets confirm NYRA's leadership position in Thoroughbred

racing," NYRA Vice President and Director of Racing P.J. Campo said. "The

enhanced purses should result in larger field sizes, stimulate additional

wagering activity, and increase profitability for NYRA."

The centerpiece of the 2012 Belmont spring meet falls on June 9 with the

144th running of the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes, the third jewel of

Thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown. Also on Belmont Stakes Day are the Grade 1,

$500,000 Manhattan Handicap, the Grade 1, $500,000 Just a Game, the Grade 2,

$400,000 Woody Stephens, and the Grade 2, $400,000 True North Handicap.

One of the most notable stakes purse increases for the Belmont spring meet is

for the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap, which will be run on Memorial Day, May 28

with a $750,000 purse, up $250,000 from last year. Additional stakes on Met Mile

Day include the Grade 1, $400,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap and the Grade 2,

$200,000 Sands Point.

Also, the Grade 1, $300,000 Acorn will be run on Met Mile Day for the first

time, allowing for optimal spacing between it and the Grade 1, $300,000 Mother

Goose on June 23.

The final Grade 1 of the Belmont spring meet will be the $600,000 Man o' War

on Saturday, July 14.

The 2012 Saratoga meet will be highlighted by the 143rd running of the Grade

1, $1 million Travers, the "Midsummer Derby," on August 25. Four of the largest

specific-race purse increases during the Saratoga meet occur during Travers

weekend. The Grade 1 Ballerina, usually run on Travers Day, will now be run on

August 24 with a $500,000 purse, up $250,000 from last year.

On Travers Day, 3-year-old sprinters will be competing for larger purses,

with the Grade 1 King's Bishop and the Grade 1 Test both being run for $500,000

pots, up $250,000 from last year.

Closing out Travers weekend will be the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on August 25.

With a $600,000 purse, up $300,000 from last year, the Personal Ensign is now

one of the premier older filly and mare dirt races in the country.

The Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney Handicap is the centerpiece of the two-day

Fasig-Tipton Festival of Racing, scheduled for August 4-5 and also including the

Grade 1, $300,000 Prioress and the Grade 1, $400,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt

Handicap.

The Test had been previously run on Whitney Day, and now the Prioress has

been moved from the Belmont spring meet to take the Test's place alongside the

Whitney. The Grade 3, $150,000 Victory Ride, previously run on Travers Day, has

been moved to the Belmont spring meet -- July 7.

The Grade 2 Fourstardave, previously run at 1 1/16 miles with a $150,000

purse, will be run at a mile on August 11, with a $500,000 purse, making it a

signature turf mile race for older horses.

In addition to the aforementioned Grade 1 races during the Saratoga meet are

the following: $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks on July 21, $600,000 Diana

on July 28, $600,000 Alabama on August 18, $600,000 Sword Dancer on August 18,

$150,000 New York Turf Writer's Cup Steeplechase on August 23, $750,000 Woodward

on September 1, $500,000 Forego on September 1, and $300,000 Spinaway on

September 2.