Sunshine Millions purses reduced

The Sunshine Millions, which annually pits California-breds versus Florida-breds,

will return to both Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park on January 30 with a reduced

purse structure of $1.8 million.

Santa Anita will play host to three Sunshine Millions races: the Classic for

four-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles, the Filly and Mare Turf for older

distaffers at 1 1/8 miles, and the Filly and Mare Sprint at six furlongs.

Due to a sluggish local and national economy, purses for all Millions races

have been reduced. The Classic will offer a purse of $500,000, down from $1

million in 2009. The Filly and Mare Turf will have a purse of $300,000, down

from $500,000, and the Filly and Mare Sprint will offer horsemen a purse of

$200,000, down from $300,000.

Gulfstream Park will also present three races: the Distaff for older fillies

and mares at

1 1/8 miles, the Turf for older horses at 1 1/8 miles, and the Sprint for older

horses at six furlongs.

The purses for the Filly and Mare Distaff and Sunshine Millions Turf have

both been reduced from $500,000 to $300,000. The Sprint now offers a purse of

$200,000, down from $300,000 last year.

Two stakes for three-year-old sprinters, the Dash and the Oaks, have been

eliminated.

"We are very proud of what we've been able to accomplish with the Sunshine

Millions both here at Santa Anita and at Gulfstream," Santa Anita President Ron

Charles said. "In a relatively short period of time, we've been able to grow

this competition into one of the most highly anticipated events on our calendar.

"Given the current state of the economy, I think everyone understands why

these purse reductions were necessary. It's just something that we had to do at

this time, and we feel these adjusted purses will remain very, very lucrative to

horsemen and will thus ensure another first-class day of competitive racing for

our fans across the country."

Charles also noted that owners of all horses shipping across country to

either venue will be compensated for shipping expenses as in years past.