Arlington to begin purse cuts July 2

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. -- The Illinois Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association successfully lobbied the Illinois Racing Board in a meeting this past Tuesday not to permit Arlington to run fewer than eight races per day, saying that if overall purse expenditures at the ongoing meet had to be reduced, they would prefer a purse cut to an immediate reduction in racing opportunities.

Arlington did not waste time in making the move to cut purses, with across-the-board reductions going into effect when condition book 4 begins on Thursday, July 2.

Purses offered in most races have been cut 10 percent: Maiden special weight starters will now run for $21,600 compared to $24,000 during the meet's first two months. The lowest purses, for bottom maiden-claimers, are down to just $8,550 in the new condition book.

Twelve stakes races have taken purse cuts. All six Illinois-bred races on the stakes schedule have been reduced to $50,000 from $75,000, and six open stakes have been trimmed by $50,000 each. The American Derby, Arlington Handicap, and Modesty -- all on Million Preview Day -- are now worth $100,000 each. The American St. Leger has been reduced to $350,000, the Secretariat to $450,000, and the Beverly D. to $700,000.

According to the ITHA, the purse account as of June 21 was $2.1 million underpaid (meaning there was excess money in the account), but there have been no stakes races yet this meet, and those -- especially Million Day -- deflate the purse account. Arlington at the IRB meeting this week said it's internal projections showed that the purse account would end the season substantially overpaid if some kind of change wasn't made.