PA Derby and Cotillion Top $6.3 Million Festival
Handsome Mike wins the 2012 PA Derby. Photo by Nikki Sherman/EQUI-PHOTO
Parx Racing made history last year when, other than the Breeders’ Cup, it became the first track to card two $1 million races on the same day, the PA Derby (Gr.2) and Cotillion Stakes (Gr.1). PA Derby Day on September 21 is once again the highlight of this year’s Festival of Racing, and along with the Gr.1 Cotillion, there are three other stakes carded and the traditional PA Derby hat giveaway.
The PTHA will hold its Owner’s Appreciation Day on September 14, with all members invited, and a 100% increase in purses for the day, Parx Starters preferred.
A luncheon for all and gifts for owners, and trainers of horses racing that day will be offered.
This year, the Festival kicks off on the Fourth of July weekend with one of the newly graded Parx stakes, the $200,000 Parx Dash (Gr.3). There is a four week break until the popular Smarty Jones Day on September 2.
“We set up our schedule to better accommodate Breeders’ Cup runners,” said Director of Racing, Sal Sinatra. “Our second big change was moving the Greenwood Cup from mid-July to Smarty Jones Day.”
Traditionally, many of the Breeders’ Cup entrants have used major Parx races as their final preps. Last year, Gr.1 Cotillion winner My Miss Aurelia went on to finish second in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, and Trinniberg used the Gallant Bob, now a Grade 3, as his stepping stone to a win in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
“Our final change to the 2013 Festival was the addition of three overnight stakes to 5K Day on October 12,” said Sinatra. “With the big charity foot race that day, we felt adding some exciting races would make it a full day for fans.”
A full list of the Festival events can be found below:
7/5 Independence Weekend
$200,000 Gr. 3 Parx Dash
W-MGK Radio Station race
Live Broadcast w/ DJ Andre Gardner
9/2 Smarty Jones Day
$350,000 Gr. 3 Smarty Jones S.
$350,000 Gr. 3 Turf Monster H.
$200,000 Gr. 3 Greenwood Cup
$200,000 Turf Amazon H.
50% increase in overnight purses
9/7 PA Day at the Races
$75,000 Mrs. Penny
$75,000 Mr. Jenny H.
$75,000 Banjo Picker S.
$75,000 Roanoke S.
$75,000 Dr. Theresa Garofalo Mem.
9/14 Owner’s Appreciation Day
$250,000 PTHA President’s Cup
100% increase in overnight purses
9/21 PA Derby Day
$1 Million Gr. 1 Cotillion S.
$1 Million Gr. 2 PA Derby
$300,000 Gr. 3 Gallant Bob H.
$75,000 Alphabet Soup H.
$75,000 Soul Starter H.
10/12 5K Day
$75,000 Cornucopia S.
$75,000 First Responder
$45,000 Silver Goblin Starter
