Pennsylvania Derby purse increased to $1 million

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Bensalem, PA (Sports Network) - Philadelphia Park Racetrack has announced that its premier event, the Pennsylvania Derby, will now have a purse of $1 million. The announcement was made in a press release on Tuesday.

"There's something special about that million dollar plateau," said track CEO Hal Handel. "We're excited that we can now offer our fans a race like this."

The Pennsylvania Derby will return on Labor Day 2007 after not being run last year as the racetrack finished preparations on its slot casino. The race began in 1979 with past winners including Smarten, Summing and Broad Brush. The last three editions had a purse of $750,000.

Meanwhile, the track's major stakes race for three-year-old fillies, the Fitz Dixon Cotillion Handicap, will be run on Saturday, September 22. The race had been held in early October.

"With the Breeders' Cup set for October 27 we wanted the Cotillion to sit five weeks ahead," said Sal Sinatra, Director of Racing.