Ellis Park has increased purses for registered Kentucky-breds by $10,000 for every maiden and allowance race for the remainder of the meet.
Horses eligible for the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund (KTDF) purse supplements now will compete for $60,000 in non-claiming maiden races, with allowance purses starting at $61,000.
The increases come from the transfer of $1 million in KTDF generated at Kentucky Downs into Ellis Park's purse account. That's on top of the $2.2 million committed earlier in purse money and KTDF by Kentucky Downs in agreements with the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission's KTDF advisory committee and Ellis Park's horsemen's representative, the Kentucky HBPA.
Registered Kentucky-breds must be born in the state and sired by Kentucky stallions. Starting this month, claiming races in Kentucky are eligible for KTDF supplements for the first time.
“It's gratifying to see the tracks working together on things such as purses and racing dates to make the Kentucky circuit the strongest in America, with all participants committed to keeping purse levels high all year long in the commonwealth,” said Ellis Park racing secretary Dan Bork.
Bork added of Kentucky Downs co-managing partner Ron Winchell, a prominent horse owner and breeder: “Hats off to Mr. Winchell. He's a big-time supporter of Kentucky racing, not just his own track, and Ellis Park is a prime example. Such unprecedented arrangements between racetracks also don't happen without lawmakers such as Senator Damon Thayer and Speaker David Osborne. They all understand how vital purse levels are for the health of the industry. Everyone is stepping up.”
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