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Finger Lakes Announces Second Purse Increase Of 2021

Officials at Finger Lakes Gaming & Racetrack (FLGR) announced Thursday the second purse increase of the year, which increases the average daily purses by over 26 percent than 2020 levels.

A 10 percent increase on top of the 15 percent increase announced last month has allowed average daily purses to increase by over $30,000 a day versus the 2020 season. The increases are possible due to FLGR vastly outperforming projections for its gaming operations since coming out of a nearly six-month closure due to the pandemic in 2020. In addition, FLGR was recently allowed by the state to resume a 20-hour business day after several months of reduced operating hours.

“This second increase in 2021 is another positive development for horsemen and women at Finger Lakes as they work to recover from a difficult 2020. This will also be an additional incentive for others to come participate in racing at Finger Lakes,” said FLGR general manager Chris Riegle.

Finger Lakes Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (FLHBPA) president Chris Vaccaro added: “This is more good news for our membership, and New York racing in general. These increases strengthen racing at Finger Lakes by increasing both participation and investment within the industry itself.”

FLGR has available stalls for suitable horses. Interested owners and trainers are highly encouraged to contact the FLGR racing office directly at 585-924-1546 for more information.

Finger Lakes' 2021 meet runs through Wednesday, November 24. Racing is scheduled every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon until the week after Labor Day. Thursday is then added to the schedule until the conclusion of the meet.

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Pennsylvania: Continued Casino Closures Would Make Racing Dependent On Break-Even Handle

Penn National's current purse account will allow the Grantville, Penn. track to race through the end of January whether or not Hollywood Casino remains closed, according to a Tuesday memo from the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association executive director Todd Mostoller.

Should Gov. Tom Wolf extend the casino closure past the current Jan. 4 expiration date, however, racing at Penn National will become contingent on track handle.

“Penn National has agreed to continue live racing through [January], provided the handle generates a break-even scenario for the company,” Mostoller wrote. “This is estimated to be a handle of roughly $1.4 million per night.”

Mostoller's memo indicated that both the track and the Pennsylvania HBPA are confident that level of handle is achievable, but added that if it is not, Penn National management will “likely wish to temporarily shut down racing.”

The memo concluded with an encouragement to bet the races through HollywoodRaces.com: “A bet placed on Penn National races through this ADW is treated the same as a wager placed on track, resulting in considerably higher revenue for both horsemen and the track.”

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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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Presque Isle Downs Announces 20 Percent Purse Increase Across The Board

Presque Isle Downs, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, is pleased to announce a 20 percent across the board increase for all purses. This is effective with the races to be run Monday, Sept. 28 – for which entries will be taken today.

“This has been a challenging meet, to say the least,” said Todd Mostoller, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania HBPA. “But, the cooperation from every segment of the Presque Isle community, from the Churchill Downs management team, particularly Matt Ennis, the Director of Racing, to the owners and trainers, to the incredibly-devoted backstretch workers who care for these horses, has been nothing short of remarkable.

“The pandemic has forced everyone in racing to be creative, and to be resourceful,” Mostoller added. “There's no better example of that than what continues to take place every day at Presque Isle Downs. This purse increase is a great way to say thanks to our great horsemen who stepped up big-time to support this meet.”

Racing at Presque Isle Downs will continue, Mondays through Thursdays, through Oct. 22, with a 4:45 pm first post.

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