Delta Downs tweaks purses on Jackpot card

Delta Downs in Vinton, La., has restructured the purses of three of the eight stakes that will make up its annual Jackpot Day program on Nov. 22, the track announced Wednesday. The changes do not impact the card’s centerpiece, the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot for 2-year-olds.

The Grade 3 Delta Downs Princess, which is for 2-year-old fillies at a mile, has had its purse trimmed from $500,000 to $400,000. The other changes are increases to stakes for older horses. The Delta Mile, which last year was worth $150,000 when won in track-record time by Grand Contender, has been boosted in value to $250,000. Delta has also kicked up the purse of the Treasure Chest for fillies and mares at a mile from $150,000 to $200,000.

Steve Kuypers, vice president and general manager of Delta, said he hopes the changes will help the track build on the success of Jackpot Day, which last year yielded the small facility a record $5,044,286 in all-sources handle.

“The new purse structure will make the day even better,” Kuypers said in a release, “as it should attract even more top quality horses from throughout the country and provide race fans with highly competitive fields.”

The Jackpot and Princess have both been qualifying races for the respective Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks in the system administered by Churchill Downs.

Total purses for this year’s 12th annual Jackpot card will be $2.3 million, Last year, the races were worth a cumulative $2.25 million.

Delta is owned by the Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming Corporation.