Overnight purses raised for second half of meet

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Churchill Downs has announced a purse increase of 10 percent for overnight races for the second half of its 38-day spring meet, due largely to strong wagering handle during Kentucky Derby week.

The increase becomes effective next Thursday, May 31, and will continue through the end of the meet, June 30. An average of $4,000 will be added to the purse all non-stakes races.

Churchill officials said in a Tuesday release that the increase became affordable primarily because of record wagering during the first six cards of the meet, including the May 4-5 Kentucky Oaks and Derby programs. All-sources wagering was $311.2 million, up 9 percent over the record $285.1 million bet during the same period in 2017.

New projections call for purses to average more than $601,000 per card, including stakes and Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund bonuses, with gross purses totaling $13.1 million, up from the original forecast of $12.4 million.

Similar purse raises have been announced at most spring meets since at least 2010.