Kentucky Downs cuts stakes purses

In line with other Kentucky tracks on a downward spiral, Kentucky Downs has announced major cuts in its marquee events for 2009.

Kentucky Downs, the turf-only track located near Franklin, Ky., announced late Tuesday that purses for all three of its Kentucky Cup events on Sept. 19 have been slashed. The Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Turf has been lowered from $200,000 to $150,000, while the two supporting events, the Ladies Turf and Turf Dash, have been cut in half, from $100,000 to $50,000.

Kentucky Downs will conduct a four-day meet - down from the six-day schedule used in recent years - on Sept, 19, 21, 26, and 28.

Stakes purses already have been cut to varying degrees this year at Churchill Downs, Keeneland, Ellis Park, and Turfway Park. Turfway announced this week that two of its five Kentucky Cup races originally scheduled for Sept. 26, the Juvenile and Juvenile Fillies, have been eliminated, and the purse for the Kentucky Cup Classic has been reduced from $350,000 to $200,000.