State restricted stakes program gets a purse increase

The Indiana breeding program received a boost July 15 when the Indiana Racing Commission approved a proposal by the Indiana Thoroughbred Breed Development to return purses for statebred and state-sired stakes to a minimum of $100,000.

The move increases purses for 22 stakes, it was announced by Indiana Grand. It includes 10 that have been run since the meet started in May, with retroactive payments being made to eligible owners. Indiana also announced six stakes at the $100,000 level will be boosted to $150,000: The Governor’s Stakes, Indiana First Lady, To Much Coffee Stakes, Cardinal Stakes, Unreachable Star, and Lady Fog Horn.

“This level of stakes purses brings us back to where we were in 2019, and it’s a great incentive for future investment and participation in the statebred program,” Eric Halstrom, vice president and general manager of racing at Indiana Grand, said in a press release.

The total purse boost is more than $850,000. Indiana Grand races through Nov. 8.

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◗ Indiana Grand has made a $6,000 donation to the Indiana-based aftercare program Friends of Ferdinand.

“The donation of $6,000 will cover the cost of placing two former racehorses into their next career,” said Wendy Brown, a board member for Friends of Ferdinand.