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Tampa Bay Downs Announces Third Purse Increase This Season

Despite rainy weather, Tampa Bay Downs horsemen and horsewomen are basking in sunshine today upon the announcement of a third purse increase this season, which will go into effect with Saturday's card.

Ongoing gains in simulcast revenue have led to another 10-percent boost, with an additional $2,500 for all allowance races and $1,250 more for maiden special weight, claiming and starter races. The increase amounts to approximately $15,000 more per day in total purse money.

Tampa Bay Downs previously increased purses by 10 percent on Dec. 16 and again on Feb. 3.

In on-track news, officials further postponed the track's annual Turf Sprint Showcase Day – featuring the $100,000 Turf Dash Stakes and the $100,000 Lightning City Stakes – from Sunday to next Wednesday, Feb. 24. Both races had been pushed back from Saturday to Sunday earlier because of the soaked condition of the turf course, which last saw action Friday.

With more rain forecast later this week, the decision was made to give the turf course plenty of time to dry out and create conditions as equitable as possible for all runners.

The Turf Dash is for horses 4-years-old-and-upward and the Lightning City is for fillies and mares 4-and-upward. Both races are at a distance of 5 furlongs on the turf course.

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Oaklawn Reschedules Stakes, Increases Overnight Purses; Southwest Moved To Feb. 27

After losing eight days of racing due to record-breaking winter weather, Oaklawn has announced a series of changes to its racing schedule designed to restore as much of the season as possible for the benefit of horsemen, including moving all five canceled stakes to Feb. 27 and 28.

The schedule and purse changes include:

· Immediately bringing back nearly $2 million in canceled stakes, including the $750,000 Southwest Stakes (G3) and the $600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3), which will now be run Saturday, Feb. 27 along with the $200,000 Spring Fever Stakes.

· Adding 27 races to the schedule.

· Adding two new race days – Wednesday, March 31 and Wednesday, April 28.

· Increasing the purses on all overnight races by as much as $4,000 per race.

“There's no fighting Mother Nature, especially when our priority is safety,” Oaklawn President Louis Cella said. “However, we feel these changes will greatly benefit our horsemen and our fans by creating a huge weekend of racing to kick off the rest of the season.”

The purse increase will go into effect Thursday, Feb. 25 when racing is scheduled to resume. The weekend will be highlighted by a total of six stakes races starting Saturday when the $750,000 Southwest, $600,000 Razorback and the $200,000 Spring Fever will be run. Sunday will be highlighted by the $250,000 Bayakoa (G3), $150,000 Dixie Belle and $150,000 Downthedustyroad. Nominations for all stakes were reopened and will close Friday, Feb. 19.

The purses increases will average 5 percent per overnight race, meaning maiden special weights will be increased from $82,000 to $86,000 and top allowance races will increase from $88,000 to as much as $92,000.

Cella said these late-breaking changes would not have been possible without the input and assistance of Arkansas Racing Commission Chairman Alex Lieblong and HBPA President Bill Walmsley.

“Winter dealt us a bad hand,” said Cella. “With their help, we truly are making lemonade out of lemons and with these changes, the balance of the season will be terrific.”

Due to Arkansas restrictions on crowd size, attendance at Oaklawn for live racing is limited to box holders, Oaklawn Jockey Club members, and patrons with dining/simulcast reservations. However, Oaklawn General Manager Wayne Smith anticipates being able to open the Oaklawn infield and other outdoor areas to fans in the coming weeks. Reservations can be made by calling 501-363-4660, Mon-Sat, for that week's races only.

For more information, visit www.Oaklawn.com.

Nominations for all stakes were reopened and will close Friday, Feb. 19.

Saturday, Feb. 27 Stakes – Entries to be drawn Tuesday, Feb. 23

$750,000 Southwest (G3)

$600,000 Razorback Handicap (G3)

$200,000 Spring Fever

Sunday, Feb. 28 Stakes – Entries to be drawn Wednesday, Feb. 24

$250,000 Bayakoa (G3)

$150,000 Dixie Belle

$150,000 Downthedustyroad

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Economic Indicators: Promising Start To 2021 As Total Wagering Increases Nearly 10 Percent

Equibase, LLC released its first monthly report of 2021 on Economic Indicators in Thoroughbred Racing on Thursday, Feb. 4. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Equibase has been providing monthly economic indicators advisories. The Advisory is typically disseminated on a quarterly basis to provide key metrics used to measure racing's performance throughout the year.

Total wagering on U.S. races was up 9.57 percent in the first month of 2021, despite the ongoing difficulties caused by the pandemic, including continued declines in total race days and purses. On another positive note, the decreases in race days and purses actually led to an increase in the average purses per race day, by 9.42 percent.

Of course, the 9.89 percent decline in race days and corresponding 5.99 percent decrease in races run also led to a slight increase in field size, 1.75 percent.

January 2021 vs. January 2020
Indicator	January 2021	January 2020	% Change
Wagering on U.S. Races*	$959,602,269	$875,765,850	+9.57%
U.S. Purses	$71,102,287	$72,116,730	-1.41%
U.S. Race Days	255	283	-9.89%
U.S. Races	2,211	2,352	-5.99%
U.S. Starts	17,879	18,692	-4.35%
Average Field Size	8.09	7.95	+1.75%
Average Wagering Per Race Day	$3,763,146	$3,094,579	+21.60%
Average Purses Per Race Day	$278,832	$254,829	+9.42%

* Includes worldwide commingled wagering on U.S. races.

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Tampa Bay Downs Announces 10 Percent Purse Increase

Tampa Bay Downs horsemen and horsewomen will benefit from another increase in purse money beginning with Wednesday's card.

The approximate 10-percent boost will provide a $1,000 increase for all maiden special weight, allowance, claiming and starter races.

Peter Berube, the track's Vice President-General Manager, said a double-digit gain in simulcast wagering has more than offset a decline in on-track wagering, making the second increase of the 2020-2021 meeting possible. The track had raised purses by approximately 10 percent on Dec. 16.

Tampa Bay Downs is averaging $4.1-million in daily handle on its product, a 15-percent increase from the same period last season. On-track wagering has fallen 25 percent, mostly attributable to the effect of COVID-19 on attendance.

“Our Thoroughbred signal is among the most popular in the country each winter and continues to gain new players, thanks to the size of our fields (an average of 8.4 horses a race) and our outstanding turf program,” Berube said. “We are pleased to use the increased revenue to support the people who make our racing competitive and challenging for serious handicappers and $2 bettors alike.”

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