Arapahoe rolls out purse incentive to boost field size

Arapahoe Park in Aurora, Colo., opens its meet on Friday with a new purse policy designed to fuel field size, improvements to the facility, and a strategic move for one of its richest races. The 39-date season featuring Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses runs through Aug. 16.

Arapahoe will tack a 10 percent purse increase onto all races, except trials, that have 10 or more starters, said Bill Powers, plant manager and director of racing. Maiden special weight races, maiden-claiming races, and claiming races with six or fewer starters will be subject to a 10 percent purse reduction, he said.

“It’s all about field size,” Powers said. “The handle is all related to field size.”

In another move that could boost field size, Arapahoe has eliminated conditions on its $5,000 claiming races. The races that surround that level, $3,200 claimers and $10,000 claimers, will still have conditioned options, said Powers.

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Powers said purses are projected to average $90,000 a program at the meet, which will reach a crescendo on closing day. Arapahoe is grouping four major stakes on the card, having moved the $100,000 Arapahoe Park Classic for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/8 miles to the program that already includes the $100,000 Gold Rush Futurity at six furlongs. Powers said total purses for the final card of the meet are projected to be $400,000.

In a returning policy, Arapahoe announced it will again offer its “Race-Day Medication-Free” incentive program. A horse who wins without race-day medication like the diuretic Lasix earns his trainer a $1,000 bonus provided by Mile High Racing and Entertainment, the parent company of Arapahoe.

Patrons returning to Arapahoe will have a new viewing area. The 9th Furlong, a trackside cabana area near the finish line, can house 200 people, according to a release. Arapahoe also will offer groups stable-area tours and have a larger regional television presence through the network Altitude Sports and Entertainment.

Travis Wales is back to defend his riding title, while last year’s leading trainer, Kenneth “Butch” Gleason, also has returned for the new season at Arapahoe. The leading owner last year was Donna Eaton.

Arapahoe announced this week that it will donate $10,000 to CANTER Colorado, an organization working to direct retired racehorses into new disciplines. The track also sponsored a March event put on by the Retired Racehorse Project in an action that fits with a new tag line announced for Arapahoe: “Where Horses Come First.”

Colorado racing, which during elections last fall lost a bid for slot machines, continues to offer offtrack betting at 10 sites in the state.

The Arapahoe stakes schedule launches Saturday with the $40,000 Inaugural for 3-year-olds at six furlongs. Following an extended opening weekend that runs through Monday, the track will be dark until June 5.