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Fair Grounds Announces Second Purse Increase of the Meet

For the second time in the young 2020-21 meet, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots has announced a 10% purse increase across the board. Much like the first, the boost was inspired by strong simulcast handle during the first seven weeks of the 149th racing season, which includes solid bettor response to the newly implemented traditional early and late Pick 5 wagers.

“Despite losing multiple days of turf racing, handle has remained quite strong,” Fair Grounds’ racing secretary Scott Jones said. “Condition book four will be released the beginning of next week, and we’re happy to be in a position to raise purses for a second time. We’d once again like to thank the owners, trainers and fans who have been supporting our day-to-day racing product.”

As a result of the increase, which will go into effect for condition book four (which starts Feb. 3), purses on allowance races will be bumped up $5,000, the mid-level races will be boosted by $3,000, while all other races will receive a $2,000 hike. Maiden special weight races will now be worth $55,000. The purse increase includes both open races and Louisiana-bred races.

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Canterbury’s 2021 Race Dates Approved; Purses Projected To Increase 35 Percent

Canterbury Park's request for a 65-day 2021 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing season, May 18 through Sept. 16, was unanimously approved on Thursday by the Minnesota Racing Commission.

The Shakopee, Minn. track will conduct a Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday race schedule with racing also held on Memorial Day and Labor Day. as well as Saturday, July 3.

Purses are anticipated to be approximately $14 million, $220,000 per day, a projected increase of more than 35 percent in total and 12 percent per day as compared to 2020. A 2012 cooperative marketing and purse enhancement agreement reached with the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, owners and operators of nearby Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, will supplement purses by $7.28 million. The agreement extends through 2022 with more than $80 million going toward purse supplements and joint marketing of the two properties.

Post time on Sundays and holidays will be 1:00 p.m. while weekday racing on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday racing will begin at 5:00 p.m. On July 3, racing will begin at 4:00 p.m. The 2021 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse stakes schedules are expected to be announced in January with stall applications and the first condition book available shortly thereafter.

Canterbury Park's 24/7 card casino and simulcast racebook remain temporarily closed due to Executive Order 20-103 issued by Gov. Tim Walz to slow the spread of COVID-19. Visit www.canterburypark.com for more information.

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HBPA, Simulcast Revenue Fuel Purse Increases At Tampa Bay Downs

Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla. will increase purses for all races except stakes by approximately 10-percent beginning on Wednesday, Dec. 16, track Vice President-General Manager Peter Berube announced Wednesday.

The increase will be $1,500 for maiden special weight and allowance races and $1,000 for claiming and starter races.

“Thanks to the efforts of former (Tampa Bay Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association) President Bob Jeffries and the approval of their board, we were able to build a substantial cushion in the purse account before the current meeting,” Berube said.

“Our export (simulcast) business has been strong since racing returned on Nov. 25 and is up 29 percent to date,” Berube said.

“We were projecting a 30-35-percent decrease in on-track wagering on live and simulcast racing to start the meeting and those projections have been correct, but the actions of the Tampa Bay HBPA and the popularity of our signal across the country enable us to feel comfortable raising purses starting next week,” Berube said.

Through the first six cards since the 2020-2021 meeting resumed, Tampa Bay Downs has averaged $3,719,055 in daily interstate wagering. The total wagering handle on Saturday's 10-race card was a Cotillion Festival Day record $6,128,282, of which $5,702,369 was through interstate wagering.

Around the oval: Tampa Bay Downs currently races on a Wednesday-Friday-Saturday schedule, with Sundays added to the mix on Dec. 20. Additionally, the track will conduct a Thursday card on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, and be closed Christmas, Dec. 25.

Otherwise, Tampa Bay Downs is open every day for simulcast wagering, no-limits action and tournament play in The Silks Poker Room and golf fun and instruction at The Downs Golf Practice Facility.

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COVID-19: Zia Park To Resume Live Racing Dec. 2, Overnight Purses Boosted 30 Percent

In accordance with recently revised business reopening guidelines issued by New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Zia Park will resume live racing on Wednesday, Dec. 2. Post time at the Hobbs, N.M. track is slated for 12:00 PM Mountain Time.

Racing at Zia Park was prematurely suspended on Nov. 16, and remained suspended through Nov. 30 by Gov. Grisham's order to cease in-person non-essential activities due to COVID-19 spikes in the area.

Zia Park will also race Thursday, Dec. 3 (a previously rescheduled race date), and then maintain a Monday through Wednesday schedule through its final live racing program on Dec. 23.

Overnight purses starting with the December 2 live card will be increased 30 percent from their previously advertised amounts, pending approval by the New Mexico Racing Commission.

The Zia Park barn area will remain open until Dec. 31, 2020 with the racetrack itself closed for training after Dec. 23.

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