NYRA announces purse hikes for Saratoga routes

The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) announced Thursday an innovative

program that will increase purses for open company route races on the dirt and

turf at Saratoga Race Course, based on the number of horses in a race. The

revamped purse structure begins on July 23, opening day at Saratoga.

For dirt races at nine furlongs and longer, NYRA will provide incremental

increases for every betting interest over six that start. For turf races longer

than nine furlongs, the increases will take effect for every betting interest

over eight that start.

The purse hikes per betting interest for both dirt and turf races are as

follows:

At Saratoga this summer, for example, an open allowance race for

non-winners of two at nine furlongs on the dirt with 10 betting

interests will increase $32,000 from the current purse of $70,000 to

$102,000. An open maiden special weight race at 11 furlongs on the turf

with 11 betting interests will jump $15,000 from the current purse of

$63,000 to $78,000.

"These purse increases provide a huge incentive for owners and trainers at

NYRA tracks and across the country to run their horses at Saratoga and fill

these distance races," NYRA Vice President and Director of Racing Paul "PJ"

Campo said. "Our fans benefit since higher purses attract better horses and

create exciting wagering opportunities. And, of course, large fields generate

higher handle, and that's good for NYRA and all of our racing stakeholders."

"This is an innovative and exciting experiment that will reward the

connections of horses that are born and bred to go a distance of ground," said

Rick Violette Jr., president of the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's

Association.  "There is sometimes just criticism for our reliance on pure

speed and, hopefully, this could start a trend towards rewarding endurance as

well."

Average daily purses for the 2007 Saratoga meet were $773,738, the highest of

any Thoroughbred race track in the country, and reflected a 16.7 percent

increase from the 2006 meet.