After Record Derby Week, Churchill Increases Purses
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Photo: Coady Photography
Overnight purses at Churchill Downs will go up 10% thanks to a record Kentucky Derby week
Effective June 8, Churchill Downs will raise overnight race purse offerings 10% thanks to record Kentucky Derby-week business levels.
Purses for overnight races, which include overnight stakes, allowance, maiden special weight, claiming, and maiden claiming events, will rise by an approximate blended average of $3,209 per race.
Total overnight purses for the meet are projected to be $12.7 million, up from the original forecast of $12.3 million. The daily average purse distribution, not including stakes money, will be approximately $335,000 per day. That number grows to $568,000 when stakes money is included.
The purse boosts were made possible by record all-sources wagering on Kentucky Derby week, which covered opening night April 29 through the May 6 Kentucky Derby Day. The six days of racing lured a record-breaking $285.1 million in wagers; up $18.4 million or 7% from last year's $266.8 million.
"Our record Kentucky Derby-week business levels helped generate $16.1 million in purses that will be paid to horsemen this year," said Kevin Flanery, president of Churchill Downs racetrack. "We're thrilled that our local owners, trainers, jockeys, and breeders will benefit from the increased purse offering over the final four weeks of the spring meet."
May 29 was the halfway mark of Churchill Downs' 38-day spring meet. Racing continues Thursday-Sunday through June 29.