Lone Star plans purse increases for 2020 meet

Lone Star Park near Dallas has announced a surge in purse money for its 44-date meet, which opens April 16.

The track projects purses will average $245,000 per program, up from $165,000 per day during the meet in 2019. The sharp increase includes $1.4 million in stakes purses, according to Bart Lang, Lone Star’s director of racing.

Maiden special weight races will be worth $34,000 compared to $23,000 last meet, Lang said. The purse for no-conditions allowance races will be $39,000 versus $28,000 a year ago, while open $5,000 claiming races will have a purse of $14,000 compared to $11,000.

Lone Star will be the second meet in Texas to increase purses due to a new state law that calls for placing a portion of existing taxes on horse products and services in an escrow account that will be capped at $25 million per year, with some funds tabbed for purses. Sam Houston opened in January with a purse spike.

“We’re excited about it,” Lang said. “Sam Houston has done well, and we hope to carry on with that momentum.”

Lone Star also has created the $300,000 Texas Derby for May 25.

“Lots of states have a derby, and Texas hadn’t had one,” Lang said. “We felt like it needed to be done. We hope to grow that race.”

Ron Moquett, who winters at Oaklawn and has a division at Sam Houston, said he and his owners are considering sending some horses to Lone Star.

“With what the purses have done, it’s made it part of the discussion now,” he said. “The increase of the purse structure makes it more of an option.”

Moquett’s spring base remains Kentucky.

Lang has started recruiting trips for Lone Star.