Keeneland will increase purses for overnight (non-stakes) races for the upcoming 2013 spring race meeting—highlighted by notable increases for maiden and allowance races for horses 3-year-olds and up.
The minimum purses for maiden and allowance races for 3-year-olds and older will increase to $58,000 while those same purses for 2-year-olds will increase to a minimum of $52,000. Previously, those races were run for a minimum of $50,000 regardless of age. Additionally, Keeneland will increase the purses for all claiming races by $1,000 each.
Over the 16-day meet, these increases will add more than $627,000 to the purse pool, raising Keeneland's average daily purses to more than $540,000, ranking it among the highest in North America. Stakes purses total $3.625 million.
"We believe it is important to support all levels of our racing program," said vice president of racing W.B. Rogers Beasley in a release. "By boosting purses for our overnight races, we are able to reward those horsemen who compete at Keeneland day after day, bringing their full stables here every April and October. It is important to recognize their commitment to us."
Keeneland's 16-day race meeting begins on Friday, April 5, and continues through Friday, April 26.