Increased purses for 2016 in Indiana approved

The Indiana Thoroughbred Breed Development Program received approval from the state racing commission on Wednesday to make an additional $1.4 million in purses available to Indiana-breds in 2016 because of changes in legislation passed this year.

The increase includes purse money for 20 stakes races restricted to statebreds going from $85,000 in value to $100,000. In addition, the state’s four Signature Stakes will continue to be contested at $150,000 each. Some 30 additional overnight races will be funded, with the flexibility to write approximately 48 more races using the Breed Development discretionary fund. This means Indiana Grand will be able to card approximately 322 Breed Development overnight races at its 2016 meet, an increase of more than 15 percent from 2015.

“The additional funds gave the Thoroughbred Breed Development Advisory Committee an opportunity to look at how we can make an already good program even better,” said Jessica Barnes, director of racing and breed development at the Indiana Horse Racing Commission. “We are all very excited to be able to offer these improvements, and we hope that horsemen will take advantage of this lucrative program by making plans to invest and race in Indiana.”