BloodHorse.com | Horse Racing News

SunRay Park to Begin 2012 Season April 20

SunRay Park Racetrack has announced its Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse stakes schedule for its 42-day meet, which begins April 20.

Study Shows Racing's Value in Canada, Ontario

A recently released study shows horse racing has a $5.7 billion economic impact in Canada, and that racing in the province of Ontario accounts for 26% of total expenditures for the Canadian horse industry.

Sam Houston Reports Gains for 2012 Meet

Sam Houston Race Park reported a 35% increase in live pari-mutuel handle and a 40% jump in attendance for its 31-day Thoroughbred meet, which ended March 12.

Special Report: Annual Purses Review for 2011

The Blood-Horse's annual review of North American purses from the pages of the March 10, 2012, edition.

Download Report

Mild February Aids Solid Handle Increase

Unseasonably warm weather in February no doubt contributed to a 7.60% increase in wagering on United States races.

Turfway Slashes Purses; Lowest in 20 Years

In yet another sign of trouble for the Kentucky horse racing industry, Turfway Park said it will slash overnight purses 25% effective March 3 because of an overpayment coupled with lower pari-mutuel handle.

Gulfstream Purses to Average $440,000 a Day

An increase in pari-mutuel handle has led Gulfstream Park to raise purses 15% through the end of its meet, which concludes April 8.

Major Purse Hikes Set for Belmont, Saratoga

Stakes purses at the Belmont Park and Saratoga meets this year will increase roughly 27%, while overnight purses will jump about 42%, the New York Racing Association said Feb. 29.

Oaklawn Park Hikes Purses $100,000 a Week

Officials at Oaklawn Park said that with an additional $800,000 in purse money through the end of the meet, purses will total a record $18 million for the 56-day session.

Good Weather Aids Business at Oaklawn Park

Oaklawn Park said overnight purses will increase $5,000 per day effective Feb. 9 because of improved business aided by good weather.

Report: Horsemen Intend to Operate Monmouth

The New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association has submitted a plan to the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority to lease Monmouth Park beginning this year.

Wagering Down Slightly in January

After posting a rare gain in December, wagering on North American racing took a small step backward in January, with total handle from all sources down 1.1% from January 2011.

Fairmount Park Purses to Jump 20% in 2012

Fairmount Park and the Illinois Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association have agreed upon an increased purse structure for 2012 thanks to the racetrack's share of casino impact funding it received last year.

Turfway Drops Some Stakes to Maintain Purses

The ability to fill a greater number of higher-level races in December has led Turfway Park to trim some stakes toward the end of its 2012 winter/spring meet to meet the purse budget.

PA Gaming Revenue Tops $3 Billion in 2011

Revenue from slot machines and table games at 10 casinos in Pennsylvania in 2011 topped $3 billion for the first time, state officials said Jan. 18.

Laurel to Increase Purses, Sets Stakes Slate

Laurel Park will soon raise purses roughly 10% across the board to a figure that will top the 2011 daily averages at two nearby racetrack casinos with which it competes for horses.

Hawthorne Ties Purse Money to Field Size

Hawthorne Race Course will offer bonus money for larger fields during its spring meet, track officials announced Dec. 26.

NY Panel Issues Plan for Retired Racehorses

A New York task force has recommended a percentage of revenue from video lottery terminals and purse accounts go toward retraining and retirement programs for racehorses in the state.

MD Groups Commit to Discuss Long-Term Plan

Maryland racing industry officials already have scheduled their first meeting to devise a long-term strategy for live racing in the state beyond 2012.

Handle Still Down in U.S. as Purses Improve

National handle on Thoroughbred racing continued to decline in November, though the dip is not nearly as pronounced as it was a year ago at this time.

Gulfstream Hopes New Schedule, Changes Work

The highly anticipated revised schedule in southeast Florida racing will arrive Dec. 3 when Gulfstream Park begins an 87-day meet that will extend through April 8, 2012.

Canterbury Park Will Stay the Course in 2012

Despite taking a financial hit because of a state-imposed shutdown during its live race meet this summer, Canterbury Park will stay the course with its regular schedule in 2012.

Kentucky Racing Shifts to Turfway Park

Kentucky racing shifts to Turfway Park for four months beginning Dec. 1, opening night of the holiday meet. Five stakes are scheduled for the December meet.

Monmouth Meet: Down From 2010, Up From 2009

Business at Monmouth Park this year expectedly dropped after what appears to be a one-time "Elite Meet" last year, but average daily figures were still much higher than those recorded for the comparable 2009 meet.

Purses Up But Handle Down for October

Purses were up but pari-mutuel handle was down in October, according to the Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators released Nov. 5 by Equibase.

Sprint Stakes, Optimism at Suffolk Downs

Suffolk Downs will offer its richest stakes since 2008 on Oct. 22 amid a sense of optimism brought about by passage of legislation that gives it a chance to be awarded a license for a resort casino.

Handle Down, But Purses Up in September

For the month of September, pari-mutuel handle continued to decline, but a considerable increase in purses provided a silver lining, according to the latest Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators.

PA Casinos: $274.9M for Racing in 2010-11

Pennsylvania's 10 casinos -- racetrack and standalone -- generated $274.9 million for the state's Race Horse Development Fund in fiscal year 2010-11, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board annual report.

Hoosier Park Increases Most Purses

Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, citing an increase in pari-mutuel handle, raised most purses effective Sept. 27.

IRB Protects Spring Meet at Hawthorne in 2012

The Illinois Racing Board Sept. 27 rejected a 2011 racing dates proposal that would have eliminated the spring meet at Hawthorne Race Course, including the grade III Illinois Derby.

NJ Internet Betting Bill Has Money for Purses

Legislation to authorize Internet gambling at Atlantic City casinos-- and produce a dedicated amount for purses at racetracks--has been introduced in the New Jersey Senate.

River Downs Reports Gains in Ontrack Handle

River Downs, where the start of the 2011 race meet was delayed because of Ohio River flooding, reported gains in live handle and daily average purses.

Shutdown Hurts Canterbury, But Business Good

Canterbury Park officials said overall business numbers for the Minnesota track's 2011 meet were "encouraging" in the face of 20 lost days caused by a state government shutdown.

August Not Kind to U.S. Handle and Purses

After a solid rebound in July, pari-mutuel handle and purses declined substantially in August, according to the latest Thoroughbred Racing Economic Indicators.

KY Downs to Launch Instant Racing Sept. 1

Kentucky Downs will inaugurate Instant Racing in Kentucky Sept. 1 and believes the form of pari-mutuel wagering can help restore "vibrancy" to the state's horse racing industry.

NJ Breeders Challenge Purse Fund Veto, Splits

The Thoroughbred Breeders' Association of New Jersey has filed an appeal in connection with Gov. Chris Christie's veto of a decision by the New Jersey Racing Commission to award $15 million in purse supplements.

Change Looms for New York-Bred Program

With expectations that funding for the New York-bred program will increase about 100% by 2014, officials hope to strike a balance with plans to expand its offerings and rewards for owners and breeders.

Report: Illinois Racing Gets Escrow Funding

Roughly $141 million in an escrow account has been freed up for use by the Illinois horse racing industry, according to published reports.

Turfway Restores Five Kentucky Cup Stakes

With little time to spare and graded status for three races on the line, all five Kentucky Cup stakes will return to the calendar at Turfway Park in September. This year's Cup Day will be sponsored by WinStar Farm.

Some Calder Purses Up 5% Effective July 21

Calder Casino & Race Course has increased some purses 5% beginning with its July 21 program. It is the second purse increase in roughly a month.

KY Downs Preparing Instant Racing Application

It appears Kentucky Downs will be the first racetrack in the state to apply to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission for an Instant Racing license.

NJ Purse Money Split, But Governor Must OK

The New Jersey Racing Commission, in what could end up being nothing more than a symbolic gesture, has divvied up $15 million in casino money that would be used for purses in 2012 should Gov. Chris Christie approve.

In California, Politics Colors Takeout Fight

An ongoing battle over pari-mutuel takeout rates in California isn't only a major issue in the war over horsemen's representation, but it also has moved horseplayers' involvement in political issues in racing to a new level.

Churchill Downs Hikes Purses Another 15%

Churchill Downs has raised purses for its spring meet again, this time by 15% effective June 16. A 10% purse hike was announced June 3 at the Kentucky racetrack, whose meet continues through July 4.

May Economic Indicators: Declines Continue

Wagering on U.S. races fell 7.8% during the month of May as the declines in Thoroughbred racing continue, according to figures released June 4 by the Equibase Company.

Calder, Horsemen Have ADW Deal; Purses Hiked

Calder Casino & Race Course and the Florida Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association's board of directors June 3 jointly announced a 7.5% purse increase beginning with Calder's June 3 race card.

NJ Racetrack Leases Have Some Loose Ends

Negotiations regarding the lease of two New Jersey racetracks by private operators continued June 1, the date state officials had set to wrap up the transfers.

Report Reflects Slots Impact on PA Racing

Purse revenue earned from pari-mutuel handle and racetrack slot machines dropped in 2010, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board's "benchmark report" on racetrack casinos in the state.

Purses Up at Oaklawn; Total Handle Declines

Oaklawn Park reported increases in attendance, pari-mutuel handle, and purses for its 2011 meet, which was impacted early on by weather-related cancellations.

Santa Anita Handle Down in All Categories

Whether gross or average figures are used, pari-mutuel handle for the Santa Anita Park winter/spring was down, according to information compiled from various sources.