LOS ALAMITOS TO HOST $50,000 FINAL AT 1,000 YARDS ON NOVEMBER 27

         Horses racing at 1,000 and 870 yards at Los Alamitos Race Course will now have an opportunity to qualify to a $50,000 final at 1,000 yards to be held November 27 at the Orange county track.

          All races held at those distances will earn its starters points towards qualifying to the final for horses 3-year-olds and upward. The point system is simple: each dollar earned at any class level in races held at 1,000 and 870-yards will equal to one point. Horses started earning points here on Friday, March 12 with the final night to earn points set for Sunday, November 21. The horses with the 10 highest number of points will have first preference to compete in the $50,000 final. Click here for the current standings.

          “We hope that the attraction of having a big money race at this distance will create excitement and provide an incentive for horses to compete at Los Alamitos for the next several months,” said Racing Director Scott Craigmyle.

      Horse management decisions will play a key role, as owners and trainers will have to make decisions on what racing level - anywhere from an open allowance to a lower claiming race - to earn points towards the $50,000 final. Strategy will then come into play, as the connections will have to decide whether they enter their horse in a lower claiming spot to earn important points but face the possibility that the horse could be claimed; or once the horse has a good amount points, the connections may opt to enter allowance events to avoid having the horse claimed. The caveat there is that other contenders in claiming races may close the point gap in the meantime.  

          “Owners and trainers will have to make the decision as to when and whether they have enough points to qualify to the November final,” Craigmyle said. “There will be a lot of strategy involved and I believe a lot of excitement around this new event. The 1,000-yard division has become an important part of the racing program at Los Alamitos Race Course. Offering this nice purse is something track owner Ed Allred wanted to do to show his appreciation to our horsemen and horsewomen for their continued support.”

          Point standings will be available at LosAlamitos.com as well as in the racing office at Los Alamitos Race Course. The track’s official printed program, Night Lines, will also list the point standings each week. Since the final will be held at 1,000 yards, it is a Quarter Horses preferred race. For more information, please contact the Los Alamitos Racing Office at 714-820-2788 or visit LosAlamitos.com.

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