Pennsylvania Announces Increases to State-Bred Stakes

Four Pennsylvania-bred stakes will double this year in value to $200,000, and another two $100,000 stakes have been added to the stakes schedule in the state, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association announced in a release. A total of $2.6 million in purses will now be paid out in restricted state-bred stakes in 2021.  

"Our revenue has stabilized and the Race Horse Development Trust Fund has stood strong," says Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association's executive secretary Brian Sanfratello. "We wanted to send a message that Pennsylvania is on the move and the premier place to breed and race." 

Purses have been increased for the year-end 2-year-old stakes, the Shamrock Rose for fillies at Penn National Race Course Nov. 26 and the Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes at Parx Racing Dec. 7, as well as the Alphabet Soup Stakes and Plum Pretty Stakes for older runners on Parx Racing's rich Sept. 25 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) card.  

Returning to the schedule are two six-furlong 3-year-old stakes cut earlier in the year — the New Start Stakes for fillies, and the Danzig Stakes - both at Penn National Oct. 22. 

Elizabeth Merryman, chair of the PHBA racing committee, says the increases come at an opportune time. "We're making up for last year," she explains, noting the reductions to the PHBA Breeding Fund due to COVID-19, as well as attempts by the governor to alter the Fund, which have since been resolved. "Now that things have gotten much more stabilized, it's great that we can add stakes and put big purses on the 2-year-old stakes at the right time of the year, where they can catch the attention of people making buying decisions at the sales. Buyers are going to look closer at the PA-breds, which helps the breeders.

"We're giving away substantial sums of money and the program is getting bigger and stronger," Merryman adds. "It helps the breeders by advertising the program." 

PHBA president Greg Newell says the boost to the stakes program rewards the resiliency of those involved in the breeding and racing industry in the state. "Being wise with our money and managing it carefully and having the resources available, we want to say thank you to our members and to share with the general racing community the strength of the breeding program in Pennsylvania."  

The updated stakes and their conditions are:  

Saturday, Sept. 25, Parx Racing

• $200,000 Alphabet Soup Handicap, 3 & up, 1 1/16 miles, turf

• $200,000 Plum Pretty Stakes, 3 & up, fillies & mares, 1 1/16 miles 

Friday, Oct. 22, Penn National

• $100,000 Danzig Stakes, 3-year-olds, six furlongs

• $100,000 New Start Stakes, 3-year-old fillies, six furlongs

Friday, Nov. 26, Penn National

• $200,000 Shamrock Rose Stakes, 2-year-old fillies, six furlongs 

Tuesday, Dec. 7, Parx Racing

• $200,000 Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes, 2-year-olds, seven furlongs