Ohio Derby Purse Bumped to $500,000 for 2015
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On the heels of two banner years, ThistleDown Racino has increased the 2015 purse for the Ohio Derby to a record high of $500,000. In addition, daily purses at the 90-year-old track will average $130,000, which will be the highest daily average of any Thoroughbred track in the state.
The 81st running of the Ohio Derby, which is 1 1/16 miles and restricted to 3-year-olds, will take place June 20. This marks the second year in a row that the purse for the Ohio Derby has seen a significant increase, up from just $100,000 in 2013.
"We are thrilled with the purse increase for the Ohio Derby," said Patrick Ellsworth, racing secretary at ThistleDown. "The added money will go a long way in attracting some of the best 3-year-olds in the country."
Typically raced in July, the Ohio Derby has been moved up to claim an earlier spot on the summer calendar. The new date positions the Ohio Derby between the famed Triple Crown races and the prestigious stakes races that occur across the country later in the summer.
In addition to the boost in the Ohio Derby, daily purses at ThistleDown will reach a new average high this season of $130,000. This is an 18% increase over the 2014 average daily purse of $111,000.
"Since the addition of (video lottery terminals) nearly two years ago, the quality of racing at ThistleDown has improved significantly," Ellsworth said. "The horsemen continue to enhance their stables and their reward is higher purse payouts. It's a sign of the upward trend in Thoroughbred racing in Ohio."
In the 2014 season, ThistleDown saw its average field size per race increase by 2.6% to 7.9 horses as more prominent runners and trainers returned. ThistleDown also added stakes races last season, bringing this year's total number to 20.
The track's racing season kicks off April 27 and will run 100 days. Horsemen can submit stall applications this week and begin shipping horses to ThistleDown March 30. With the increase in purses, the competition for stalls is projected to be more intense than it has been in previous years.
The Best of Ohio series returns to ThistleDown Oct. 10 with its largest purse ever. The five stakes races will offer a combined $750,000. ThistleDown will host its first stakes race of the season May 2 with the $75,000 Dr. T.F. Classen Memorial. The race is reserved for fillies and mares 3 and up.