2002 Cal-bred News

Sunshine Millions Another Premium for Cal-breds

ARCADIA, Calif. (Sept. 25, 2002) -- The top horses bred in California and Florida will compete Jan. 25, 2003 in the Sunshine Millions, a unique series of races held in both states the same day with $3.6 million in guaranteed purses.

The Sunshine Millions is the result of a joint effort among the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, the Thoroughbred Owners of California, the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners Association, the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park and Magna Entertainment.

Four races will be held at each track on one special Saturday of racing. The starting field for each race will be comprised of an equal number of California-bred and Florida-bred entries, with purses ranging from $250,000 to $1 million per race.

"This is a tremendous benefit to our breeding program as it provides yet another lucrative incentive for California-bred horses," said Doug Burge, executive vice president and general manager of CTBA. "This event will further enhance the value of, and increase the demand for, quality Cal-breds. Cal-breds have been successfully competing against many of the top horses in the country and should prove especially tough in this series of races."

The Sunshine Millions and the Great State Challenge in December are the latest additions to the extraordinary opportunities already available to California-breds, who also can compete in the California Cup and California Gold Rush, each offering over $1.3 million in purses. The stakes calendar will now consist of 70 stakes races either restricted to or featuring Cal-breds, with annual purses of more than $10 million.

For the CTBA, funding for the Sunshine Millions became possible through the passage of SB 1465, authored by California State Senator Jim Costa of Fresno. This legislation allowed the CTBA greater discretion in allocating stakes funds for the betterment of the Cal-bred program.

This is the breakdown of the eight races for the Sunshine Millions:

3-year-old fillies, 7 furlongs, $250,000
3-year-old colts & geldings, 7 furlongs, $250,000
3-years & up fillies & mares, 6 furlongs, $250,000
3-years & up colts & geldings, 6 furlongs, $250,000
3-years & up fillies & mares, 1 1/8 miles (turf), $350,000
3-years & up colts & geldings, 1 1/8 miles (turf), $500,000
3-years & up fillies & mares, 1 1/16 miles, $750,000
3-years & up colts & geldings, 1 1/8 miles, $1 million

Among the top Cal-breds who could participate in the Sunshine Millions are graded-stakes horses Continental Red, Disturbingthepeace, Grey Memo, Hot Market, Icecoldbeeratreds, Men's Exclusive, Ringaskiddy, Chief Planner, Ninebanks and Warren's Whistle.