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Churchill cuts stakes purses for Fall Meet Due to a decline of purse money earned from wagering sources during its 2008 Spring Meet, Churchill Downs Racetrack has been forced to reduce $975,000 from its stakes program for the upcoming 2008 Fall Meet through purse reductions in 11 stakes races and the elimination of two other stakes. Churchill Downs' 26-day Fall Meet is scheduled to open October 26 for a five-week run through November 29. The reduction was due to wagering handle that was lost when the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (KHBPA) and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA) blocked distribution of Churchill Downs' simulcast signal to all national advance-deposit wagering (ADW) sites, including TwinSpires.com., the official ADW site for Churchill Downs Inc. "To offset the amount of lost wagering handle during our Spring Meet resulting in less money available in the purse account for races, we need to reduce our fall stakes program," Churchill Downs President Steve Sexton said. "Negotiations with Kentucky horsemen are ongoing and we remain hopeful this impasse can be resolved." Five races were lowered in value by $100,000: the October 26 Ack Ack H. (G3) from $200,000 to $100,000; the November 22 River City H. (G3) from $200,000 to $100,000; the November 27 Falls City H. (G2) from $300,000 to $200,000; and closing day's Kentucky Jockey Club S. (G2) and Golden Rod S. (G2) from $250,000 to $150,000 each. Four Grade 3 events received a $50,000 cutback from $150,000 to $100,000: the Iroquois S. and Pocahontas S. on November 1; the Commonwealth Turf S. on November 9; and the Cardinal H. on November 15. Additionally, the November 2 Chilukki S. (G2) was lowered from $200,000 to $150,000, and the November 8 Mrs. Revere S. (G2) was reduced from $200,000 to $175,000. The two canceled stakes were a pair of non-graded $100,000 five-furlong turf sprints: the November 8 Mariah's Storm S. for fillies and mares and the November 16 Cherokee Run S. The lone unaffected stakes race was the Fall Meet's signature event, the $500,000 Clark H. (G2) for three-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles on dirt scheduled for November 28. All told, the 2008 Fall Meet will now feature 12 stakes events -- all graded -- cumulatively worth $1,925,000.
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