January 30 - Delaware Park officials had a problem. They wanted to restore a number of stakes races that were cut from the venue's calendar a few years ago, but didn't have the money to fund their purses. So what they did is reduce the purses of two of the course's biggest races, and cancel two of its smallest.

The purse of the Delware's signature race, the Delaware Handicap (Gr 2), has been reduced from $1,000,000 to $750,000, and the purse of the Barbaro Stakes (Gr 3) has been reduced from $150,000 to $100,000. The $125,000 Susan's Girl Stakes and $75,000 Light Hearted Stakes have been cut.

As a result, the $500,000 that has been freed up will be used to reinstate the $125,000 Sweet and Sassy Stakes (for filly and mare sprinters), the $125,000 Brandywine Stakes (for three-year-olds and up), the $100,000 Sussex Stakes and finally the $75,000 Go for Wand Handicap to the schedule.

The changes mean that this year Delaware Park will offer a total of 22 stakes races worth $3.1 million, which for the same money is two more races than were run last year. According to Delaware Park officials, overnight purse distribution is expected to remain the same as last year's figure of $2 million a day.

Over and above the Delaware Handicap on July 17, the venue's other graded races include the Delaware Oaks (Gr 2) on July 10, the Obeah Stakes (Gr 3) on June 12, the Robert Dick Memorial Handicap (Gr 3) on July 17, the Endine Stakes (Gr 3) on Sept. 11, and the Kent Stakes (Gr 3) on Sept 25.

Delaware Park's 116-day racing season kicks off on May 1 and will run until November 6. The venue will host live racing every Saturday, Monday Tuesday and Wednesday, and from July 15 until August 26 racing fans will also be able to enjoy live racing on Thursdays.