Calder purses at record level

Calder purses are at an all-time high following the latest purse increase, which went into effect on Friday.

All overnight purses have been increased approximately 10 percent, bringing the daily average up from $168,000 to $185,000. The purse increase, when combined with stakes purses and breeders' awards, brings the new daily purse distribution to approximately $225,000.

Ken Dunn, Calder's president, said the increases are a result mainly of a "resurgence in ontrack business in August along with an increase in average daily ontrack attendance of 3.5 percent."